Theme 3: When things go wrong in the brain
Part 1:
Stahl - Chapter 6: Psychiatric Genetics
Genes and Psychiatry: The Classic Theory
Classic view of inherited disease
o A single abnormal gene expresses an abnormal gene product causing inherited
disease in a classic autosomal dominant pattern
o
Classic theory: Genes cause Mental Illness [this view is wrong]
o Abnormal gene produces abnormal gene product leads to neuronal malfunction
which directly causes mental illness
o BUT mental illnesses =/= diseases
Symptom endophenotype model
o Instead of genes causing mental illnesses they cause individual symptoms,
behaviours, personalities or temperaments
Abnormal gene encoding for a symptom, behaviour or trait causes
neuronal malfunction leading to that symptom, beh. Or trait
No gene found for personality etc.
Part 1:
Stahl - Chapter 6: Psychiatric Genetics
Genes and Psychiatry: The Classic Theory
Classic view of inherited disease
o A single abnormal gene expresses an abnormal gene product causing inherited
disease in a classic autosomal dominant pattern
o
Classic theory: Genes cause Mental Illness [this view is wrong]
o Abnormal gene produces abnormal gene product leads to neuronal malfunction
which directly causes mental illness
o BUT mental illnesses =/= diseases
Symptom endophenotype model
o Instead of genes causing mental illnesses they cause individual symptoms,
behaviours, personalities or temperaments
Abnormal gene encoding for a symptom, behaviour or trait causes
neuronal malfunction leading to that symptom, beh. Or trait
No gene found for personality etc.
