title: Gene × environment interaction models in psychiatric genetics.
abstract: Gene-environment (G × E) interaction research is an emerging area in psychiatry, with the number of G × E studies growing rapidly in the past two decades. This article aims to give a comprehensive introduction to the field, with an emphasis on central theoretical and practical problems that are worth considering before conducting a G × E interaction study. On the theoretical side, we discuss two fundamental, but controversial questions about (1) the validity of statistical models for biological interaction and (2) the utility of G × E research for psychiatric genetics. On the practical side, we focus on study characteristics that potentially influence the outcome of G × E interaction studies and discuss strengths and pitfalls of different study designs, including recent approaches like Genome-Environment Wide Interaction Studies (GEWIS). Finally, we discuss recent developments in G × E interaction research on the most heavily investigated example in psychiatric genetics, the interaction between a serotonin transporter gene promoter variant (5-HTTLPR) and stress on depression.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karg
authors.forename: Srijan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D008954:Models, Biological; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins