Genetic overlap between schizophrenia and depression

Several researchers from NORMENT participated in the study, which was recently published in the scientific journal Nature Genetics.

More than 300 medical researchers from 250 institutions across the world were involved in this project and genetic information of more than 75,000 people was used. The team, led by the University of Queensland (Australia), investigated common variants in the DNA called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Using new computational tools, they analyzed around one million SNPs from each study participant, and found evidence of genetic similarities between groups of people with the different psychiatric diagnose.

We discovered a clear overlap in genetic variants between people with depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, says co-author Ole A. Andreassen, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of NORMENT.

The research was supported by international research funding agencies, including Research Council of Norway and Norwegian Health Authorities.

Publication
S Hong, Lee et al.
Genetic relationship between five psychiatric disorders estimated from
genome-wide SNPs.
Nature Genetics, online 28 July 2013, doi doi:10.1038/ng.2711.