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Genetic Biomarkers of Psychiatric Disorders

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Biomarkers in Neuropsychiatry

Abstract

Psychiatric disorders are multifactorial conditions known to have a significant genetic component, as seen in family, twin, and adoption studies. After decades of linkage and candidate gene studies, technological advancements have allowed for the recent discovery of many common and rare genomic loci significantly involved with the heritability of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, major depressive disorder, suicide, and many other conditions. This chapter discusses basic concepts related to the study of psychiatric genetics and epigenetics, including common methods, study designs, and approaches such as genome-wide association studies and polygenic risk scores. Moreover, we provide an update on the known genetic and epigenetic underpinnings of many psychiatric disorders, discussing their key identified genes and signaling pathways. Finally, the limitations and future directions of the field will be thoroughly discussed, including the many potential clinical applications of genetic and epigenetic findings for diagnostics, risk assessment, and prediction of treatment response.

Mohammad Farhan and Esther Soyebo shared first authorship.

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Farhan, M., Soyebo, E., Busby, C., Fries, G.R. (2023). Genetic Biomarkers of Psychiatric Disorders. In: Teixeira, A.L., Rocha, N.P., Berk, M. (eds) Biomarkers in Neuropsychiatry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43356-6_2

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