Controversies and consistencies in psychiatric genetics.
The methodology in psychiatric genetics, including family studies, twin studies, and adoption strategies, developed during the last 70 years to a high degree of perfection, has established beyond doubt the heritability of the major psychoses, the schizophrenic and manic-depressive disorders. In spite of recent refinements, including twin-family-study strategies, dual mating strategies, and advanced mathematical models and statistics the mode of inheritance is still undetermined. Evidence for heterogeneity in both schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis has been brought up leading to new approaches in diagnostic delimitations. However, the final solution of this issue probably has to await the finding of a genetic marker, for which recent advances in molecular biology as seen in Huntington's disease may give some hope.
D000300:Adoption; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment