The bipolar disorder phenome database: a resource for genetic studies.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Genetics
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Bipolar disorder (BD) is a complex psychiatric condition with a significant genetic component.
• Understanding the genetic underpinnings of BD requires comprehensive phenotypic data from affected families.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assemble and validate a large database of phenotypic variables from families with bipolar disorder.
• To create a valuable resource for genetic and biological research into bipolar disorder.

Main Methods:

• Phenotypic data were collected from participants in two major bipolar disorder genetic studies.
• Standardized diagnostic interviews and clinician-derived variables were used for data extraction.
• Rigorous data validation, including range checks and re-verification, ensured data quality.

Main Results:

• The database comprises 197 phenotypic variables for 5,721 individuals across 1,177 families.
• DNA samples are available for a majority of subjects (5,373).
• Phenotypic variables demonstrated strong familial aggregation and significant heritability, indicating substantial power for genetic studies.

Conclusions:

• This comprehensive database represents the largest collection of phenotypic variables for bipolar disorder to date.
• The resource is available to the research community for exploring genotype-phenotype correlations.
• The adequately powered cohort facilitates the detection of even modest genetic effects in bipolar disorder.