Most psychiatric disorders have shared genetic roots
Study divides psychiatric disorders into 5 general dimensions of genetic vulnerability
Researchers from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium have found that most genetic influences on mental disorders are shared across different diagnoses, challenging traditional classifications.
The study reveals that hereditary risk in 14 psychiatric disorders can be attributed to five main genetic factors, ranging from obsessive-compulsive disorders to addictions, including depression, Anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, eating disorders, substance use disorders, ADHD, autism, and Tourette syndrome.
In the study developed by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo (Norway), they examined how genetic variation is distributed among disorders, cell types, and biological pathways.
5 Key Genetic Dimensions
Psychiatric disorders were divided into 5 general dimensions of shared genetic vulnerability:
Compulsive disorders: includes OCD and anorexia nervosa.
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.
Neurodevelopmental disorders: such as ADHD and autism.
Internalizing disorders: depression and anxiety.
Substance use disorders: impact of alcohol and other drugs.
Identification of Genetic “Hot Spots”
Similarly, more than 100 regions in the genome with genetic variants affecting various psychiatric disorders have been identified, including a significant area on chromosome 11 associated with addiction.
The research findings shed light on brain biology and suggest a common genetic basis for psychiatric disorders, which could open new avenues for treatment and prevention.
Leveraging these findings
Specific treatments exist that leverage the findings on shared genetics across diseases, such as gene therapies and gene editing. These approaches allow for targeting common genetic variants for multiple disorders.
Gene therapies. These introduce functional genes using viral vectors such as AAV to correct shared defects, approved for conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy. In shared genetics, such as in mental or metabolic disorders, it is explored to restore functions in common pathways. Gene editing (CRISPR) edits shared genetic variants, reducing toxic proteins in trials for diseases such as hATTR or inflammatory conditions, with potential for genetic pleiotropy. Recent studies link this to shared markers in brain development. Drug repurposing. GWAS identify shared genes for repurposing existing drugs, prioritizing treatments based on pleiotropic genetic data without prior assumptions. This accelerates options for disorders with overlapping genetics.
Application in daily psychiatric practice
Genetic discoveries in psychiatry, such as polymorphisms in cytochrome P-450 genes and neurotransmitter receptors, are primarily applied in the personalization of drug treatments.
Pharmacogenetics in treatments. It allows the selection of drugs and doses according to the patient's genetic profile, reducing adverse effects by 10-20% and improving efficacy by up to 15%. This involves genetic testing to identify slow or ultrarapid metabolizers, avoiding the "trial and error" approach.
Risk stratification. Polygenic risk scores help assess predisposition to disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, facilitating early preventive interventions.
Interventions such as antidepressants or psychotherapy induce reversible epigenetic changes, promoting neuroplasticity, while integration with AI allows for precise diagnostic subtypes.