Recent advances in the genetics of schizophrenia

Authors: DM Waterworth AS Bassett LM Brzustowicz

Publish Date: 2014/04/30

Volume: 59, Issue: 2, Pages: 331-348

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Abstract

The genetic etiology of schizophrenia a common and debilitating psychiatric disorder is supported by a wealth of data Review of the current findings suggests that considerable progress has been made in recent years with a number of chromosomal regions consistently implicated by linkage analysis Three groups have shown linkage to 1q2122 using similar models with HLOD scores of 65 32 and 24 Other replicated loci include 13q32 that has been implicated by two independent groups with significant HLOD scores 442 or NPL values 418 and 5p141131 5q2133 8p2122 and 10p1115 each of which have been reported as suggestive by at least three separate groups Different studies have also replicated evidence for a modest number of candidate genes that were not ascertained through linkage Of these the greatest support exists for the DRD3 3q133 HTR2A 13q142 and CHRNA7 15q13q14 genes The refinement of phenotypes the use of endophenotypes reduction of heterogeneity and extensive genetic mapping have all contributed to this progress The rapid expansion of information from the human genome project will likely further accelerate this progress and assist in the discovery of susceptibility genes for schizophrenia A greater understanding of disease mechanisms and the application of pharmacogenetics should also lead to improvements in therapeutic interventions

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