Psychiatric genetics

Psychiatric genetics is a subfield of behavioural neurogenetics, which studies the role of genetics in various psychological impairments such as alcoholism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as those of the autistic spectrum.

The basic principle behind psychiatric genetics is that genetic polymorphisms, as indicated by linkage to e.g. a SNP, are part of the etiology of psychiatric disorders.

The goal of psychiatric genetics is to better understand the etiology, using that knowledge to improve treatment methods, and possibly also to develop personalized treatments based on genetic profiles (see pharmacogenomics).

Professional Societies

 * International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society
 * International Society of Psychiatric Genetics