title: Evaluating the parent-of-origin effect in bipolar affective disorder. Is a more penetrant subtype transmitted paternally?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous genetic mechanisms and modes of transmission underlying bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) have been postulated. Recently, the discovery of genomic imprinting and mitochondrial transmission of illness in humans has stimulated study of parent-of-origin effects in the transmission of BPAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined a large sample of families from an associated linkage study to search for a possible parent-of-origin effect. Selecting for unilineal families with at least one offspring and/or parent diagnosed with BPAD after structured interview, we conducted three analyses: (1) the rates of illness among mothers and fathers of offspring affected with BPAD; (2) the observed frequency of transmission and rates of illness among maternal and paternal lineages; and (3) the rates of affective illness among offspring of parents affected with BPAD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicate no significant differences in the rates of illness among mothers and fathers of offspring affected with BPAD. Also, the frequency of transmission and rates of illness among maternal and paternal lineages did not differ significantly. However, the rate of BPAD among the offspring of fathers affected with BPAD was significantly higher than for mothers with the illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substantially more women than men, and maternal than paternal relatives were studied - introducing possible gender biases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest a possible paternal parent-of-origin effect.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kornberg
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Sadovnick
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Remick
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McElroy
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rapaport
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kaul
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Vrabel
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Schommer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pizzuco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jameson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schibuk
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kelsoe
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D019683:Penetrance