Molecular genetics of affective disorders.
Family studies have provided evidence for familial transmission in suicide in major psychiatric disorders, and in particular affective disorders. Even though they may seem contradictory, linkage studies have suggested several genetic regions implicated in affective disorders. Association studies have mainly focused on genes related to serotonergic and monoaminergic pathways. Other genes involved in GABAergic and substance P pathways have also been studied in association studies. Another way to approach the genetics of affective disorders is the definition of more detailed phenotypes. Suicidal behaviour is one of the more largely studied subphenotypes within affective disorders. Tryptophan hydroxylase and serotonin transporter genes, related to the serotonergic pathway, have been found to be associated to suicidal behaviour, in particular violent suicidal behaviour but need to be replicated before definitive conclusion. Improved methodologies and updated tools in genetic studies will improve in the future our knowledge of affective disorders.
Oswald
Pierre
P
Department of Psychiatry, Erasme Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium. poswald@ulb.ac.be
Souery
Daniel
D
Mendlewicz
Julien
J
D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008967:Molecular Biology; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D019680:Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion
D004247:DNA