Finding schizophrenia genes
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George Kirov,
Department of Psychological Medicine, Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
Address correspondence to: Michael Owen, Department of Psychological Medicine, Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University, Henry Wellcome Building, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom. Phone: 44-2920-743248; Fax: 44-2920-746554; E-mail: owenmj@cardiff.ac.uk
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Genetic epidemiological studies suggest that individual variation in susceptibility to schizophrenia is largely genetic, reflecting alleles of moderate to small effect in multiple genes. Molecular genetic studies have identified a number of potential regions of linkage and 2 associated chromosomal abnormalities, and accumulating evidence favors several positional candidate genes. These findings are grounds for optimism that insight into genetic factors associated with schizophrenia will help further our understanding of this disease and contribute to the development of new ways to treat it.
Schizophrenia is a disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, reduced interest and drive, altered emotional reactivity, and disorganized behavior. Often, cognitive and behavioral signs are present from early childhood, but the characteristic features generally start in the late teens and early twenties. Although outcomes are variable, even with treatment, the typical course is one of relapses followed by only partial remission as well as a marked reduction in social and occupational function such that sufferers are often the most vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged individuals in society. In a recent metaanalysis the median incidence rate was 15.2 per 100,000, with the 10% to 90% quantiles between 7.7 and 43.0 per 100,000 (1).
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