From psychiatric disorders to animal models: a bidirectional and dimensional approach.

ABSTRACT: Psychiatric genetics research is bidirectional in nature, with human and animal studies becoming more closely integrated as techniques for genetic manipulations allow for more subtle exploration of disease phenotypes. This synergy highlights the importance of considering the way in which we approach the genotype-phenotype relationship. In particular, the nosologic divide of psychiatric illness, although clinically relevant, is not directly translatable in animal models. For instance, mice will never fully recapitulate the broad criteria for many psychiatric disorders; additionally, mice will never have guilty ruminations, suicidal thoughts, or rapid speech. Instead, animal models have been and continue to provide a means to explore dimensions of psychiatric disorders to identify neural cir

SUBMITTER: Donaldson ZR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4135025 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature