Genetics of affective disorders.
Despite substantial evidence for heritability in affective disorders the contributing genes have proven elusive. Here we discuss the genetic epidemiology of depression, as well as methodological issues and results from molecular genetic studies. There has been rapid advances in genetics, genomics and statistical modelling, facilitating the search for molecular mechanisms underlying affective disorders and several strategies reviewed in this paper hold promise to provide progress in the field. Considering the poorly understood biological basis of vulnerability to affective disorders, the identification of genes involved in the pathophysiology will unravel mechanisms and pathways that could permit more personalized therapeutic strategies and result in new targets for pharmacological intervention.
Johansson
C
C
Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska Sjukhuset, S-17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
Jansson
M
M
Linnér
L
L
Yuan
Q P
QP
Pedersen
N L
NL
Blackwood
D
D
Barden
N
N
Kelsoe
J
J
Schalling
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*