Etiology in psychiatry: embracing the reality of poly-gene-environmental causation of mental illness.

ABSTRACT: Intriguing findings on genetic and environmental causation suggest a need to reframe the etiology of mental disorders. Molecular genetics shows that thousands of common and rare genetic variants contribute to mental illness. Epidemiological studies have identified dozens of environmental exposures that are associated with psychopathology. The effect of environment is likely conditional on genetic factors, resulting in gene-environment interactions. The impact of environmental factors also depends on previous exposures, resulting in environment-environment interactions. Most known genetic and environmental factors are shared across multiple mental disorders. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, in particular, are closely causally linked. Synthesis of findings from

SUBMITTER: Uher R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5428165 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature