HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by CRADDOCK, N. Articles by JONES, I. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by CRADDOCK, N. Articles by JONES, I.

Molecular genetics of bipolar disorder

IAN JONES, MRCPsych

Division of Neuroscience, University of Birmingham, UK

Correspondence: Professor Nick Craddock, Professor of Molecular Psychiatry and Head of Department, Department of Psychiatry, University of Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital, Birmingham B15 2QZ, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 121 678 2358; fax +44 (0) 121 678 2351; e-mail: n.craddock{at}bham.ac.uk

Declaration of interest Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

Background A robust body of evidence from family, twin and adoption studies demonstrates the importance of genes in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder. Recent advances in molecular genetics have made it possible to identify these susceptibility genes.

Aims To present an overview for clinical psychiatrists.

Method Review of current molecular genetics approaches and emerging findings.

Results Occasional families may exist in which a single gene plays a major role in determining susceptibility, but the majority of bipolar disorder involves more complex genetic mechanisms such as the interaction of multiple genes and environmental factors. Molecular genetic positional and candidate gene approaches are being used for the genetic dissection of bipolar disorder. No gene has yet been identified but promising findings are emerging. Regions of interest include chromosomes 4p16, 12q23—q24, 16p13, 21q22, and Xq24—q26. Candidate gene association studies are in progress but no robust positive findings have yet emerged.

Conclusion It is almost certain that over the next few years the identification of bipolar susceptiblity genes will have a major impact on our understanding of disease pathophysiology. This is likely to lead to major improvements and treatment in patient care, but will also raise important ethical issues.