Catherine Schaefer, PhD

Catherine Schaefer, PhD, joined the Division of Research (DOR) in 1989. Dr. Schaefer trained as an epidemiologist at the University of California, Berkeley, and completed received postdoctoral training in Psychiatric Epidemiology at Yale University. In collaboration with others at DOR and scientists at local universities, she is heading efforts to develop an applied genetic epidemiology program at DOR that will serve as a resource for new research focused on the genetic epidemiology and pharmacogenetics of many diseases.

Current Positions:

Research Scientist, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente, Northern California

Primary Research Interests:

	Epidemiology of psychiatric and neurologic disorders
	Early antecedents of adult chronic disease
	Genetic epidemiology.

Current Projects:

	The Kaiser Permanente Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health
	Pharmacogenetics of Response to Antidepressants
	Prenatal Determinants of Schizophrenia
	Prenatal Factors in Bipolar Disorder
	Early Determinants of Adult Health
	Prenatal Exposure to Organochlorines and Male Reproduction
	Genetic and Nongenetic Factors in Multiple Sclerosis

Completed Research Projects (partial listing):

	Prospective Study of Social, Environmental, and Occupational Factors in Pregnancy Outcomes of California Women
	Management Options for Women with Moderate or Low Inherited Risk of Breast Cancer in a Multi-ethnic Health Plan
	Recurrence and Survival Among Women Who Become Pregnant After Diagnosis with Breast Cancer

Selected Publications:

	Kanner AD, Coyne JC, Schaefer C, Lazarus RS. Comparison of two modes of stress measurement: daily hassles and uplifts versus major life events. J Behav Med 1981;4:1-39.
	Schaefer C, Coyne JC, Lazarus RS. Health-related functions of social support. J Behav 1981;4:381-406.
	Boyce WT, Schaefer C, Harrison HR, et al. Social and cultural factors in pregnancy complications among Navajo women. Am J Epidemiol 1986;124:242-53.
	Schaefer C, Quesenberry C Jr, Wi S. Mortality following conjugal bereavement and the effects of a shared environment. Am J Epidemiol 1995;141:1142-52.
	Schaefer C, Friedman GD, Quesenberry CP Jr, Orentreich N, Vogelman JH. IGF-I and prostate cancer. Science 1998;282:199a.
	Schaefer C, Brown AS, Wyatt RJ, Kline JK, Begg MD, Bresnahan M, Susser E. Maternal prepregnant body mass and risk of schizophrenia in adult offspring. Schizophr Bull 2000; 26:257-274.
	Susser E, Schaefer C, Brown AS, Begg M, Wyatt RJ. The design of the Prenatal Determinants of Schizophrenia Study. Schizophr Bull 2000;26:275-286.
	Brown AS, Schaefer CA, Wyatt RJ, Begg MD, Goetz R, Bresnahan MA, Harkavy-Friedman J, Gorman JM, Malaspina D, Susser ES. Paternal age and risk of schizophrenia in adult offspring. Am J Psychiatry. 2002 Sep;159(9):1528-33.
	Coates AO, Schaefer CA, Alexander JL. Detection of postpartum depression and anxiety in a large health plan. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. 2004;31(2):117-133.
	Brown AS, Begg MD, Gravenstein S, Schaefer C, Wyatt RJ, Bresnahan M, Babulas VP, Susser ES. Serologic evidence for prenatal influenza in the etiology of schizophrenia. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004 Aug;61(8):774-80.
	Brown AS, Hooton J, Schaefer CA, Zhang H, Petkova E, Babulas V, Perrin M, Gorman JM, Susser ES. Maternal interleukin-8 levels and risk of schizophrenia in adult offspring. Am J Psychiatry 2004;161:889-95.
	Opler MG, Brown AS, Graziano J, Desai M, Zheng W, Schaefer C, Factor-Litvak P, Susser ES. Lead exposure, delta-aminolevulinic acid, and schizophrenia. Environ Health Perspect. 2004;112(5):548-52.
	Brown AS, Schaefer CA, Quesenberry CP Jr, Liu L, Babulas VP, Susser ES. Maternal exposure to toxoplasmosis and risk of schizophrenia in adult offspring. Am J Psychiatry. 2005 Apr;162(4):767-73.
	Glatt CE, Carlson E, Taylor TR, Risch N, Reus VI, Schaefer CA. Response to Loss-of-Function Mutation in Tryptophan Hydroxylase-2 Identified in Unipolar Major Depression. Neuron 45, 11-16. Neuron. 2005 Dec 8;48(5):704-705.
	Herman DB, Brown AS, Opler MG, Desai M, Malaspina D, Bresnahan M, Schaefer CA, Susser ES. Does unwantedness of pregnancy predict schizophrenia in the offspring?: findings from a prospective birth cohort study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2006; [Epub ahead of print].