Previous issues

E. Van Assche, K. Van de Woestyne, A.A. van Elburg, T.K. Birkenhäger, J.J. Luykx, J.R. Zinkstok

‘Genetica, wat heb ik daar nou aan in de praktijk?!’ Als u zo denkt, is dit nummer juist voor u. Gezien de vele ontwikkelingen op het gebied van de psychiatrische genetica en de concrete consequenties die deze kunnen hebben, denken wij dat het tij...

Relating the history of genetics to the field of psychiatric genetics: the discovery, reading and writing of DNA

E. Van Assche, J.J. Luykx

Background The importance of genetics in psychiatry has been a topic of ongoing debate. The futile search for candidate genes underlying psychiatric disorders in the decades before 2007 resulted in overall disappointment. Since then, however, rese...

Genetics and psychiatry

A. Abdellaoui, K.J.H. Verweij

Background For centuries, it has been suspected that the vulnerability to psychiatric problems might be heritable. In the 20th century, this was confirmed through twin and family studies, with heritability estimates ranging from ~30-40% for postt...

Genetic risk of mental illness: what do we know and how do we communicate this?

J.R. Zinkstok, M.Z. van der Horst, R.P.H. Wouters, C.M. Aalfs, J.J. Luykx

Background Insights from psychiatric genetics research and large international psychiatric genetics consortia are promising but still remain outside the realm of clinical practice. Aim To provide an overview of developments in the field of psych...

What can genetic research teach us about the overlap and differences between psychiatric disorders?

W.J. Peyrot, M.G. Nivard, C.A. de Leeuw

Background Genetic research has made continuous progress in the past years, as a results of the rapidly growing sample sizes and development of novel analytical tools. Aim To present the latest developments in research into the genetic overlap an...

Leidraad genetisch testen in de psychiatrie

M.Z. van der Horst, C.M. Aalfs, J.A.S. Vorstman, J.J. Luykx, J.R. Zinkstok

Background In recent years, technological advances have led to the identification of numerous genetic variations that are associated with psychiatric symptoms. Establishing a genetic cause may provide patients and family members with an explanatio...

Genetics and neurodevelopmental disorders

K. Vermeulen-Kalk, T. Kleefstra

Background Current developments in genetic strategies result in tracing an underlying genetic defect in the majority of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) patients, including those with normal functioning as well as intellectual disabilities. The...

Monogenetic causes of psychiatric disorders: a review

T.A.M.J. van Amelsvoort, A. Swillen

Background Because of rapid developments in genetic technology, more underlying genetic causes of psychiatric disorders can be detected which may contribute to better monitoring and treatment of co-morbidities than previously. Aim Review of monoge...

Genetic research in childhood and adolescent psychiatry

C.M. Middeldorp, W.A. Akingbuwa, E.S. Jami, M. Bartels

Background Childhood mental health problems are partly influence by genetic factors with heritability estimates varying between 40% and 90%. Aim We provide examples of genetic research focusing on explaining the continuity of symptoms and the asso...

Translational genetics; expectations for eating disorders and other psychiatric disorders

R.A.H. Adan, A.A. van Elburg

Background Translational (genetic) research focuses on the translation of preclinical research into practice. While many genetic studies have been conducted in recent years, the results do not simply translate to the clinic. Aim To visualize the ...

Genetics of frontotemporal dementia

Y.A.L. Pijnenburg

Background Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder leading to dementia. Because of predominant behavioural and emotional features it often presents to the psychiatrist. Aim Provide an overview of the genetic background of FT...

Farmacogenetica in de psychiatrie; de huidige status quo

R. van Westrhenen, T.K. Birkenhäger

Background Medication side effects and limited efficacy are substantial problems in general and also in psychopharmaceuticals. Previous studies have shown that pharmacogenetic individual characteristics can be relevant. Aim To arrive at a responsi...

Interplay between genetic background and environmental factors in psychiatry: current situation and future prospects

B.P.F. Rutten, S. Guloksuz, M. Boks, J. van Os, J.J. Luykx, R. van Winkel

Background The hypothesis that etiopathogeneses of psychiatric disorders are determined by interplay between genetic background and environmental factors, as well their interactions can increasingly be put to direct scientific test, based on a wa...

Onderzoeksartikel

The translation of genetic risk variants to molecular disease mechanisms

G. Snijders, R. Snijders, L.D. de Witte

Background Genetic studies have found large numbers of genetic risk variants that increase the risk to develop neuropsychiatric disorders. Aim We aim to explain how to investigate the effects of these genetic risk variants on the expression of g...

Dutch-Flemish research

Genetica en effectiviteit van elektroconvulsieve therapie bij depressie

Waarom dit onderzoek?

Hoewel elektroconvulsieve therapie (ECT) een zeer effectieve behandeling is voor depressieve stoornissen, is de interindividuele effectiviteit wisselend waarbij het momenteel niet betrouwbaar vooraf te zeggen valt hoe een in...

Dutch-Flemish research

Welke cellen spelen een rol bij neurologische en psychiatrische aandoeningen?

Waarom dit onderzoek?

Neurologische en psychiatrische stoornissen, waaronder stoor-nissen in middelengebruik, delen verschillende symptomen, die voort kunnen komen uit een gedeelde genetische achtergrond. Op andere vlakken vertonen deze aandoenin...

Ervaringsverhaal

Erfelijkheid en het 22q11-deletiesyndroom: ‘Mijn broer zegt dan: Saar, jij kunt weer andere dingen goed’

C.M. Aalfs

Sara (21) heeft het 22q11-deletiesyndroom, ook wel velocardiofaciaal syndroom genoemd. Dit syndroom is een multisysteemaandoening die voorkomt bij ongeveer 1 op de 3000 levendgeborenen. Het gaat gepaard met een sterk verhoogde prevalentie van neur...

Ervaringsverhaal

Erfelijkheid en schizofrenie: ‘Niet iedereen wil weten of zijn kinderen psychose zullen krijgen’

C.M. Aalfs

Oorsprong

'Natuurlijk hebben we ons afgevraagd waar de ziekte van Lodewijk vandaan komt. Zelf had ik een neef met godsdienstwaanzin en een oma met een zenuwziekte. De oom van mijn vrouw woonde levenslang bij zijn ouders, achteraf denken we dat hi...

Interview

‘Er vindt een revolutie plaats in de genetica’; interview met Danielle Posthuma