Podcast
Questions and Answers
Diagnostic categories closely map onto the genetic factors in aetiology.
Diagnostic categories closely map onto the genetic factors in aetiology.
False
The phenotype of autism spectrum disorders never includes developmental language disorder.
The phenotype of autism spectrum disorders never includes developmental language disorder.
False
Comorbidity rarely occurs in childhood psychiatric disorders.
Comorbidity rarely occurs in childhood psychiatric disorders.
False
Monogenic effects are more important than polygenic effects in childhood psychiatry.
Monogenic effects are more important than polygenic effects in childhood psychiatry.
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Genetic investigations never include estimates of environmental factors.
Genetic investigations never include estimates of environmental factors.
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Genes always exert their effects directly, without any intermediate factors.
Genes always exert their effects directly, without any intermediate factors.
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Population genetic data cannot be divided into genetic, shared environmental, and non-shared environmental factors.
Population genetic data cannot be divided into genetic, shared environmental, and non-shared environmental factors.
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Twins and siblings are never used as comparison groups in genetic studies.
Twins and siblings are never used as comparison groups in genetic studies.
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Study Notes
Interpreting Results of Genetic Studies
- Diagnostic categories do not closely map genetic factors in aetiology, making it challenging to identify specific genetic causes for childhood psychiatric disorders.
- Phenotypes, such as autism spectrum disorders, can include multiple symptoms, including developmental language disorders, while Gilles de la Tourette syndrome's phenotype extends to obsessional thinking and behavior.
Comorbidity
- Many children exhibit symptoms that qualify for multiple psychiatric diagnoses, such as depressive disorder and conduct disorder, or depressive disorder and eating disorder.
- It is unclear whether one disorder predisposes to another or if they are two manifestations of the same genetic predisposition.
Polygenic Effects and Environmental Influences
- Hereditary factors in child psychiatry are largely polygenic, meaning they involve multiple genes interacting with psychosocial factors.
- Genetic investigations may include estimates of environmental factors that influence gene expression.
Indirect Effects of Genes
- Genes can exert their effects through factors such as intelligence and temperament, which in part determine whether certain situations are experienced as stressful.
Shared and Non-Shared Environment
- Analyses of population genetic data divide variance into genetic, shared environmental, and non-shared environmental factors.
- Twins, full siblings, and half-siblings are used as comparison groups in studies to distinguish between shared and non-shared environmental factors.
- The assumption that sibling comparison groups share similar environments has limitations, as a shared environment can affect different children differently, appearing as 'non-shared environment' in analyses.
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Description
Understanding the results of genetic studies of childhood psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorders and Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, and the relationship between phenotype and genotype.
