Genetics of Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders

W. Maier; A. Zobel; M. Rietschel

doi:10.1055/s-2003-45130

Pharmacopsychiatry, Table of Contents

Pharmacopsychiatry 2003; 36: 195-202
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-45130

Original Paper

Genetics of Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders

W. Maier¹ , A. Zobel¹ , M. Rietschel^1, ²

¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
²Division Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany

Abstract

The molecular-genetic basis of non-mendelian, genetically influenced disorders (complex disorders) is beginning to be uncovered. Recently, major progress in localization and detection of disposition genes of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder was achieved. We provide a comprehensive overview of recent results of linkage and association studies in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Several disposition genes for schizophrenia (DTNBP1, NRG1, G72) were identified, whereas evidence for specific disposition genes in bipolar disorder is more limited. Multiple limitations of current research strategies in the search of disposition genes of complex disorders have to be considered; alternative phenotype definitions, genome-wide association studies and parallel investigation of epigenetic misregulations might overcome these limitations.

Key words

Molecular genetics - schizophrenia - bipolar disorder - disposition genes

Full Text

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Prof. Dr. med. Wolfgang Maier

Department of Psychiatry

University of Bonn

Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25

D-53105 Bonn

Phone: 0228-287 5723

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Email: Wolfgang.Maier@ukb.uni-bonn.de