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Current Status of Genetic Research in Affective Disorders

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The Origins of Depression: Current Concepts and Approaches

Part of the book series: Dahlem Workshop Reports Life Sciences Research Report ((DAHLEM LIFE,volume 26))

Abstract

A growing body of clinical investigation is concerned with genetic variation in psychobiology. Neurotransmitter receptors, neurobiological peptides (structural or quantitative variations), and clinical biological variables such as monoamine metabolites are being studied for genetic variation. Psychopharmacogenetic studies of variations in biologic response (as opposed to variations in metabolism of a drug) are also pursued. In the past, such studies were unusual in psychobiology or in clinical genetic studies. With the shift in research interest and the availability of new genetic technologies, the prospects for resolving the genetics of affective disorders are now brighter than they were. At this point, however, no firmly established genetic marker exists for affective disorders in general or for any identifiable subgroup of them. The evidence on the chromosomal linkage markers HLA and color blindness is contradictory and awaits resolution. Biological hypotheses on the nature of affective disorders have led to several genetic studies, some of which are promising, but the crucial test of unambiguous prediction of vulnerability within pedigrees has never been satisfied.

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  1. Section on Psychogenetics, Biological Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bldg 10, Rm 3N218, Bethesda, MD, 20205, USA

    E. S. Gershon, J. I. Nurnberger Jr., N. S. Nadi, W. H. Berrettini & L. R. Goldin

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  1. E. S. Gershon
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  2. J. I. Nurnberger Jr.
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  3. N. S. Nadi
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  4. W. H. Berrettini
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J. Angst

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© 1983 Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo: Springer-Verlag.

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Gershon, E.S., Nurnberger, J.I., Nadi, N.S., Berrettini, W.H., Goldin, L.R. (1983). Current Status of Genetic Research in Affective Disorders. In: Angst, J. (eds) The Origins of Depression: Current Concepts and Approaches. Dahlem Workshop Reports Life Sciences Research Report, vol 26. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69129-4_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69129-4_12

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