Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

___________________________________________

Monday, May 28, 2007

Familiality and diagnostic patterns of subphenotypes in the National Institutes of Mental Health Bipolar sample
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics
Early View 24 May 2007



Bipolar-related subphenotypes that cluster within families may help identify subsets of patients that are more genetically homogeneous. Environmental or assessment factors that segregate by family may influence estimates of familiality.

We aimed to determine familiality of subphenotypes of bipolar disorder (BP), accounting for effects of age, sex, diagnosis, and site/wave of ascertainment.

Rapid cycling showed the strongest evidence for familiality in a model including age, sex, diagnosis, and site/wave of ascertainment. Additional significantly familial traits were comorbid alcohol abuse/dependence and comorbid panic disorder as well as psychosis, suicidal thoughts, and rapid mood switching

In multicenter samples, familiality may be overestimated if variability in diagnosis of subphenotypes between site/wave of ascertainment is not considered.

Read Full Abstract

Reprint Request E-mail: esaunder@umich.edu
___________________________________________________________________
at