Genetic insights into schizophrenia

Objective: To outline new insights into the genetic etiology of schizophren ia. Methods: We discuss several commonly held beliefs about the genetic issues in schizophrenia. Results: The complex genetic nature of the illness poses a challenge for in vestigators seeking causative genetic mutations. Multiple independent resea rch findings are, however converging to identify a relatively small number of chromosomal locations that appear to contain schizophrenia susceptibilit y genes. Also, a clinically relevant genetic subtype of schizophrenia (22qD S) has been identified. We are developing a better understanding of how sch izophrenia relates to other psychiatric disorders. While investigations int o the possible roles of dopaminergic and serotonergic systems continue, oth er approaches that do not require theories of the mechanism of illness are also being used to identify candidate susceptibility genes. Conclusions: Research to date suggests that our understanding of the pathop hysiology of schizophrenia will soon be fundamentally altered by genetic ap proaches to this complex disease.