[The study of candidate genes in psychiatric disease. II. Affective disorders]

The results of research concerning the importance of genetic factors in etiopathogenesis of affective diseases are presented. In molecular genetics research there are two most frequently applied strategies: searching of the whole genome in order to find new genes and molecular analysis of candidate genes. Candidate gene analysis consist in choosing a gene which could theoretically have a connection with the disease. The polymorphism of a chosen gene is estimated and then its connection with the disease is defined. The presented reference review concerns the results of candidate genes research, which refer to biochemical hypothesis of affective diseases. In many medical centers it was found that in affective disorders the polymorphism of gene's receptor D4, GABA and serotonin transporter could be of etiological importance.