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Family, twin, adoption, and molecular genetic studies of juvenile bipolar disorder
Author(s) -
Althoff Robert R,
Faraone Stephen V,
Rettew David C,
Morley Christopher P,
Hudziak James J
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
bipolar disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.285
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1399-5618
pISSN - 1398-5647
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2005.00268.x
Subject(s) - bipolar disorder , juvenile , psychology , twin study , psychiatry , clinical psychology , medicine , genetics , biology , cognition , heritability
Juvenile bipolar disorder (JBD) has been a subject of significant research and debate. Phenotypic differences between JBD and adult‐onset bipolar disorder have led researchers to question whether or not similar neuropathologic mechanisms will be found. While much is known about the genetic and environmental contributions to the adult‐onset phenotype, less is known about their contributions to JBD. Here, we review family, twin, adoption, and molecular genetic studies of JBD. Behavioral genetic data suggest both genetic and environmental contributions to JBD, while molecular genetic studies find linkage to age of onset of bipolar disorder to chromosomes 12p, 14q, and 15q. Additionally, changes associated with symptom age of onset have been recently reported in the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glycogen synthase kinase 3‐beta (GSK3‐beta) genes. We contend that further progress in discovering the precise genetic and environmental contributions to JBD may depend on advances in phenotypic refinement, an increased appreciation of comorbid conditions, and more investigation of the longitudinal course of the disorder.