Psychiatric Genetics is a concise reference that presents the
complexities of this dynamic field in a clearly written, easily
accessible format, with numerous tables and illustrations. Ten expert
contributors offer a fascinating view of psychiatric genetics in a text
that is thorough and scholarly yet also succinct and accessible.
The introduction summarizes the field's four distinct paradigms--and
their interrelationships--that help us understand the role of genetic
factors in the etiology of psychiatric disorders: basic genetic
epidemiology, which demonstrates heritability; advanced genetic
epidemiology, which explores the nature and mode of action of these
genetic risk factors; gene finding, which enables us to infer the
probability that a locus in the genomic region under investigation
contributes to psychiatric disorder liability; and molecular genetics,
which traces the biological mechanisms by which the DNA variant
identified using gene finding methods contributes to the disorder
itself.
Psychiatric Genetics illustrates the importance of - Appreciating the
complex field of psychiatric genetics--Presents the major conceptual and
statistical issues in psychiatric genetics, including many of the basic
principles of both genetic epidemiology and gene finding, as well as a
brief review of DNA itself.- Detailing the results for one disorder
where substantial progress had been made in gene finding and molecular
genetics--Covers schizophrenia, because of the substantial progress made
during the past few years.- Presenting results for a more typical and
common set of psychiatric disorders where most of our information comes
from basic and advanced genetic epidemiology and where we are just
beginning to make advances using gene finding--Discusses anxiety
disorders, which illustrate these sets of issues.- Covering disorders
where major advances have been made using basic and advanced genetic
epidemiology--Details substance use disorders, where the paradigm has
shifted from sociological to genetic factors and where, in contrast to
the genetics of more traditional psychiatric disorders, researchers must
consider the inherent conditionality of drug abuse.- Investigating the
role of genetics in personality disorders--Focuses on the development of
conduct and antisocial behavior and how to incorporate developmental
processes into analyses of the role of genetics.
Psychiatric Genetics draws students, educators, and practitioners alike
into the exciting world of psychiatric genetics with a lively discussion
of its broad trends and of the strengths and limitations of its methods
to provide true insight into the etiology of psychiatric and substance
use disorders.
