Génétique et psychiatrie : à la recherche de phénotypes.

Abstract

Failure to obtain convincing results in psychiatric genetics may partly be attributed to the fact that progress in molecular biology and genetic epidemiology has not been followed by an equivalent developement in pnenotypic description. Instead of relying entirely on classical nosographical approaches, we argue that identifing more homogeneous forms of diseases through a candidate symptom approach among affected subjects and subclinical traits among non-affected relatives (endophenotype approach) may yield better results. Examples where these strategies have already been fruitful in other complex diseases are presented. Focusing on vulnerability traits might stimulate the redefinition of traditional psychiatric syndromes and should help to bridge the gap between clinical and experimental approaches. [References: 46]