Family-based molecular genetic studies in bipolar affective disorder

Abstract

This thesis covers gene mapping experiments applied to bipolar affective disorder (BPD), a severe recurrent psychiatric condition with a lifetime prevalence of 1-2%, and a substantial familial component. The study sample consisted of affected sibling pairs (ASPs), where one sibling had a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder (BPI), and the other one of a range of broader diagnoses within the affective spectrum. Initial studies focused on the investigation of a candidate gene, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), for association to BPD in an Irish pedigree sample (216 individuals). This gene revealed no evidence for association with the phenotype, possibly due to lack of statistical power of the sample, or other confounding factors.