Genetics for psychiatrists

by Dr Daniel Smith, Professor Nick Craddock, Professor Mick O’Donovan

and Professor Mike Owen

   

Major advances in recent years mean that genetic epidemiology and molecular genetics as they relate to psychiatry can no longer be ignored. Patients and their families are increasingly aware of the powerful contribution of genetic predisposition to disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and Alzheimer’s disease. 

 

Every psychiatrist, therefore, needs to know more about psychiatric genetics, not just to be able to advise their patients, but also because research in this area is producing considerable advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of mental illness.

 

In this module, we take a look at the research methods used in psychiatric genetics, showing how this field of research is relevant to clinical psychiatry and highlighting recent advances and their implications for the future. 

 

Start the module

 

Module information | About the authors | Module contents | Take-home notes | References | Glossary | Feedback

 

 

A glossary can be accessed from this module by clicking on the terms with hyperlinks.

 

Open the glossary in a new window


© 2008 Royal College of Psychiatrists