Child and adolescent psychiatric genetics
Johannes Hebebrand1, Andre Scherag, Benno G Schimmelmann
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, LVR-Klinikum Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstrasse 174, Essen, Germany. Johannes.Hebebrand@uni-duisburg-essen.de
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
|February 9, 2010
Summary
Child and adolescent psychiatric genetics is advancing with genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and Rett syndrome research. Large sample sizes are crucial for identifying genetic links to early-onset psychiatric disorders.
Area of Science:
- Child and adolescent psychiatry
- Psychiatric genetics
- Molecular genetics
Background:
- Significant progress in linking genetic variation to psychiatric disorders over 50 years.
- Previous candidate gene and linkage studies yielded limited success.
- Rett syndrome offers hope for pharmacological treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the progress in child and adolescent psychiatric genetics.
- To discuss the impact of genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
- To explore future research directions for early-onset psychiatric disorders.
Main Methods:
- Summary of Human Genome Project findings.
- Analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
- Discussion of candidate gene and linkage studies.
Main Results:
- GWAS enable detection of genetic variants without prior hypotheses.
- Very large sample sizes are essential for genome-wide significant findings.
- Elucidation of monogenic disorders like Rett syndrome.
Conclusions:
- Child and adolescent psychiatric genetics shows promise.
- Large-scale data ascertainment is necessary for future discoveries.
- Future research should focus on molecular basis of early-onset disorders.
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