Psychiatric Disorders: Behavioural Genetic Studies

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What can genetically informative study designs help us understand in psychiatric disorders?

They can help us understand what drives risk (or resilience) at different points of development.

How can rare variants explain missing variance for risk in traits such as autism and schizophrenia?

Rare variants can have a larger impact than common SNPs, affecting a small proportion of the population.

What is the main implication of the current diagnostic categories not being rooted in biological reality?

Genetic 'diagnoses' do not mirror symptom-based 'diagnoses'.

How can pleiotropy influence psychiatric risk?

One gene can influence more than one gene, affecting multiple genes influencing psychiatric risk. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of neuroimaging in psychiatric disorders according to the text?

Neuroimaging can compare findings from genetically informative studies with other methodologies. Signup and view all the answers

Why do we need twin and adoption designs to evaluate environmental risk factors for psychiatric disorders?

To determine if there is a main effect of a proposed environmental risk factor or if it is genetic confounding. Signup and view all the answers

What is the norm regarding genetic risk for psychiatric disorders?

Genetic risk for psychiatric disorders is the norm. Signup and view all the answers

What have behavioural genetic studies taught us about psychiatric disorders?

Genetic risk for psychiatric disorders is the norm – not the exception. Signup and view all the answers

What did Larsson et al.'s early longitudinal study find about genetic factors in ADHD?

Both stability and change in ADHD are influenced by genetic factors. Signup and view all the answers

Why don't current diagnostic categories in psychiatric disorders match up with reality?

Pleiotropy is common, and a single diagnostic category usually contains individuals with different etiology for their disorder. Signup and view all the answers

What did the study by Larsson et al. suggest about the stability of ADHD?

Genetic influences are important for the stability of ADHD. Signup and view all the answers

How can understanding development within a genetically sensitive framework help us understand disorder progression?

It can help determine what drives stability and change in psychiatric disorders. Signup and view all the answers

Why is environmental risk for psychiatric disorders considered complex?

Non-shared environmental influences are important, and many environmental risk factors partly reflect genetic endowments. Signup and view all the answers

How can genetically informative, longitudinal study designs help understand psychiatric disorders?

They can help understand what contributes to individual differences in initial risk for symptomatology and risk trajectories. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of non-shared environmental influences in psychiatric disorders?

Non-shared environmental influences are important for change and risk trajectories. Signup and view all the answers

How may response to intervention in psychiatric disorders be conditional on genetic make-up?

Response to intervention may vary based on genetic differences. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to consider rare variants in psychiatric disorders?

Rare variants can play a significant role in the genetic influences on psychiatric disorders. Signup and view all the answers

How can rare variants in psychiatric disorders be studied?

Genetically informative, longitudinal study designs can help understand rare variants in psychiatric disorders. Signup and view all the answers

Psychiatric Disorders: Behavioural Genetic Studies

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