title: Parent-of-origin effect in the segregation analysis of bipolar affective disorder families.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to test for heterogeneity in bipolar families based on the differential parental transmission of disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Complex segregation analyses of 260 bipolar families, ascertained by the Johns Hopkins Bipolar Disorder Study, was performed based on the evidence for a parent-of-origin effect in the inheritance pattern by using REGD in Statistical Analysis for Genetic Epidemiology, Release 3.1 program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A Mendelian dominant model provided the best explanation in 57 paternal pedigrees (pedigrees with an affected paternal lineage). No evidence of Mendelian inheritance existed among 141 pedigrees showing maternal transmission. A likelihood ratio test for heterogeneity on the basis of best-fitting Mendelian dominant model showed significant differences between these two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that pedigrees with no evidence of maternal transmission of bipolar disorder may represent a unique genetic subgroup of multiplex bipolar families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Tsuo-Hung
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Terri H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Beaty
authors.forename: J Raymond
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: DePaulo
authors.forename: Melvin G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: McInnis
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009035:Mothers; D010375:Pedigree; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012744:Sex Ratio; D018454:Spouses