MOLECULAR-GENETICS OF MENTAL-DISORDERS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO AFFECTIVE-DISORDERS

The present article reviews the recent molecular genetic findings in a ffective disorders. Results of linkage and association studies are dis cussed in regard to the main limitations of these approaches in psychi atric disorders. On the whole, linkage and association studies contrib uted to the localisation of some potential vulnerability genes for Bip olar affective disorder on chromosomes 18, 5, 11, 4, 21 and X. The hyp othesis of anticipation in affective disorders is also considered in l ight of interesting results with trinucleotide repeat mutations.