Project Summary

Frank Bellivier, M.D., Ph.D. (Independent Investigator 2004) of Hospital Henri Mondor, aims to identify, as part of an international collaboration, susceptibility genes in early-onset manic-depressive illness, a subtype of the condition which manifests itself before age 20. In complex disorders such as bipolar disease, identification of homogenous and familial forms can help identify genetic vulnerability factors. Early-onset bipolar disease has these criteria: it has a more severe clinical profile (psychotic associated symptoms, comorbidity with panic disorder, alcoholism and addictions; more severe prognosis), an increased familial risk (30 percent in first degree relatives of early onset versus 2 percent in late onset disease) and possible transmission under a genetic model defined by a major gene and a polygenic component. His collaborative group (Germany, England, Switzerland, Romania) identified 73 families with at least two affected sibs with the early onset condition and by the end of 2003, 100 sib-pairs in these families were genotyped for 400 genetic markers. Three of these chromosomal regions may have potential vulnerability gene(s). Further analysis may identify candidate genes and variations that ultimately will be tested in other populations.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Bipolar

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