The molecular genetics of affective disorders: An overview

Abstract

AbstractObjective: Genetic mapping, the method of comparing an inheritance pattern of a disease to that of a chromosomal region, has brought about a revolution in the field of human inherited diseases. Diseases which exhibit a more complex pattern of inheritance now afford the next challange in the application of genetic mapping to the field of human disease. This article aims to review the application of genetic mapping to affective disorders.Method: Review of literature concerning the molecular genetics of affective disorders.Findings: This article describes the evidence for a genetic role in affective disorders, reviews the research to date and describes the difficulties arising out of the complex nature of these disorders.Conclusions: Although progress to date in psychiatric genetics has been somewhat disappointing, the combined approach of using all the genetic tools currently available on large collections of affected individuals and families should enable the genetic basis of affective disorders to be identified.