Pharmacopsychiatry 2008; 41: S37-S43
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1081462
Review

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Concept of Endophenotypes in Psychiatric Diseases Meeting the Expectations?

I. Puls 1 , J. Gallinat 1
  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (CCM), Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
28 August 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Although the prominent role of genetics in psychiatric diseases has been established in various family, twin and adoption studies over the last decades, the identification of concrete contributing genes has been demanding. The reasons for this are manifold, including inconsistencies in psychiatric classification systems, complexity and heterogeneity of psychiatric disorders, epistatic effects and intervening environmental factors. In recent years interest has focused increasingly on the concept of endophenotypes. Genetic analyses have concentrated on discrete phenotypes supposedly linked to a particular psychiatric disorder by common neurobiological pathways, instead of studying the complex disease itself. Several endophenotypes have been established for psychiatric diseases including electrophysiological abnormalities and alterations in structural and functional brain imaging. Although results seem to be getting more consistent and reliable, several concerns have also emerged with the experience gained on the topic. This review will give an overview of the prospects and limitations related to endophenotypes in psychiatric diseases. We will also summarize essential prerequisites for successful endophenotypes in the future as well as applications for psychiatric diseases which have been envisioned.

References

Correspondence

Prof. Dr. I. Puls

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Charité Campus Mitte

Charité University Medicine Berlin

Charitéplatz 1

10117 Berlin

Germany

Phone: +49/30/450 51 73 57

Fax: +49/30/450 51 79 53

Email: imke.puls@charite.de