title: Psychiatric molecular genetics and the ethics of social promises.
abstract: A recent literature review of commentaries and 'state of the art' articles from researchers in psychiatric genetics (PMG) offers a consensus about progress in the science of genetics, disappointments in the discovery of new and effective treatments, and a general optimism about the future of the field. I argue that optimism for the field of psychiatric molecular genetics (PMG) is overwrought, and consider progress in the field in reference to a sample estimate of US National Institute of Mental Health funding for this paradigm for the years 2008 and 2009. I conclude that the amounts of financial investment in PMG is questionable from an ethical perspective, given other research and clinical needs in the USA.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry & Clinical Sciences, Program in Ethics in Science & Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9070.
authors.forename: John Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Foster