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A linkage search for joint panic disorder/bipolar genes.
Mark W Logue1, Martina Durner, Gary A Heiman
1Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts, USA.
Summary
Genetic linkage studies suggest shared risk genes for Bipolar disease (BP) and panic disorder (PD) on chromosomes 2 and 12. Evidence for heterogeneity was found on chromosome 13.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Psychiatry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Bipolar disease (BP) and panic disorder (PD) frequently occur together, suggesting a potential shared genetic etiology.
- Previous research indicates possible overlapping genetic factors contributing to the comorbidity of BP and PD.
- Identifying shared genetic loci could enhance understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms for both disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic connection between Bipolar disease (BP) and panic disorder (PD) through linkage analysis.
- To identify specific chromosomal regions that may harbor genes influencing susceptibility to both BP and PD.
- To explore potential genetic heterogeneity between BP and PD by analyzing distinct family subgroups.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from a linkage study of 120 multiplex families with panic disorder (PD).
- Calculated two-point lodscores for individuals diagnosed with PD and/or Bipolar disease (BP), classifying them as affected (PD + BP).
- Employed the Predivided-Sample Test (PST) to examine linkage evidence in pedigrees with and without Bipolar disease members separately.
Main Results:
- Obtained significant linkage evidence for common genes for the combined PD + BP phenotype on chromosomes 2 (lodscore = 4.6) and 12 (lodscore = 3.6).
- Linkage signals on chromosomes 2 and 12 were stronger when using a joint PD + BP diagnosis compared to a PD-only diagnosis.
- The Predivided-Sample Test (PST) revealed distinct linkage evidence on chromosome 13 between pedigrees with (BP+) and without (BP-) Bipolar disease members, indicating heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the presence of shared risk loci for the combined PD + BP phenotype on chromosomes 2 and 12.
- Evidence of genetic heterogeneity between BP and PD was identified on chromosome 13.
- The implicated chromosomal regions on 12 and 13 are consistent with previous findings for other psychiatric disorders, including Bipolar disease.
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