Summary Theme 3 - When things go wrong

Theme 3: When things go wrong in the brain


Part 1:

Stahl - Chapter 6: Psychiatric Genetics

Genes and Psychiatry: The Classic Theory

 Classic view of inherited disease
o A single abnormal gene expresses an abnormal gene product  causing inherited
disease in a classic autosomal dominant pattern




o
 Classic theory: Genes cause Mental Illness [this view is wrong]
o Abnormal gene produces abnormal gene product  leads to neuronal malfunction
which directly causes mental illness




o BUT mental illnesses =/= diseases
 Symptom endophenotype model
o Instead of genes causing mental illnesses they cause individual symptoms,
behaviours, personalities or temperaments
 Abnormal gene encoding for a symptom, behaviour or trait  causes
neuronal malfunction  leading to that symptom, beh. Or trait
 No gene found for personality etc.