title: Genetics of anxiety disorders.
abstract: There is considerable evidence that genetic determinants play a major role in the etiology of anxiety. Investigations into susceptibility genes for anxiety are well underway, particularly for panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder and more broadly defined anxiety-related traits, such as neuroticism and harm avoidance. This review will discuss some of the core issues related to diagnosis and molecular genetic methodology, followed by a review of recent molecular genetic findings for anxiety. The authors will attempt to highlight the numerous convergent and exciting findings. Given the rapid acceleration in knowledge of the human genome, a more definitive understanding of the genetic roots of these complex conditions may be anticipated in the relatively near future.
authors.affiliation: Anxiety Disorders Clinic, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Gwyneth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zai
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000235:genetics; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D012701:Serotonin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase