Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Current Limitations and Future Prospects in Genetics  Psychiatric Times article - "Schizophrenia is a common, complex disorder affecting roughly 1% of the population worldwide. The elevated sibling occurrence rate of approximately 10% indicates a strong familial component, and heritability estimates based upon twin studies that compare monozygotic to dizygotic twin pairs indicate that 60% to 80% of the risk for schizophrenia may be explained by genetic factors (McGuffin et al., 1995). Two genetic approaches--whole genome scanning and the association design--have primarily been utilized in the search for genes that contribute to susceptibility to schizophrenia."  
  

New Strategies Lead to New Hope  Psychiatric Times article - "Although new medications have provided increased optimism to people with schizophrenia, remission remains uncommon. The articles in this Special Report outline emerging paradigms and strategies that will enhance the potential for recovery from this devastating illness."  
  

Gene Linked to Autism: A Newsmaker Interview With Margaret Pericak-Vance Medscape Medical News interview - "Researchers have identified at least one gene that may be responsible for autism, according to a report in the March issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics. Using a new statistical method combined with careful observational classification, investigators have determined that a gene on chromosome 15 coding for the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor beta3-subunit (GABRB3) is involved in a distinctive autistic symptom of 'insistence on sameness' (IS)... " "med"  
  

Brain Activity Before Therapy Flags Vulnerability to Antidepressant Side Effects Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Changes in prefrontal cortex activity just prior to the start of antidepressant drug therapy may identify patients who are vulnerable to side effects, the results of a small study suggest. 'Surprisingly, the brain changes that signaled antidepressant side effects emerged before the start of drug,' Dr. Aimee M. Hunter from the University of California Neuropsychiatric Institute in Los Angeles told Reuters Health. The ability to identify individuals at risk for developing side effects would improve the success rate of antidepressant treatment, she said. Physicians might choose an antidepressant with a lower side-effect profile, start at a lower dose, or opt for psychotherapy alone." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].