Genetics of Psychiatric Disorders

Dear Colleagues,

Psychiatric disorders constitute one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, and affect adults, adolescents, as well as children. 

These disorders are complex traits influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Our understanding of the genetic contribution to these disorders comes primarily from parent and twin studies that have estimated high degrees of disorder heritability. For example, between 30 and 50% of major depression cases, approximately 80% of schizophrenia cases, and approximately 40% of cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder are of heritable origin.

In recent decades, genetic analyses such as genome-wide association studies have made significant progress in unraveling the genetic etiology of psychiatric disorders. However, the exact genetic contribution to these disorders is not yet fully understood. Understanding such genetic mechanisms is essential to elucidate the molecular basis of these disorders. Furthermore, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying specific disorders could provide critical information concerning disease onset and progression, as well as uncovering critical clues for developing personalized interventions and implementing preventive strategies.

This Special Issue aims to highlight original articles and reviews on recent investigations into the genetic basis of psychiatric disorders. Studies focused on genome-wide association studies, gene-environment interaction, and whole-genome sequencing analyses are welcomed. Investigators are encouraged to submit manuscripts that seek to understand molecular mechanisms that promote the development of psychiatric disorders at the level of individual genes/proteins or their signaling/interaction networks. 

Dr. Maria Pina Concas

Guest Editor

Manuscripts should be submitted via our online editorial system at https://imr.propub.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to start your submission. Manuscripts can be submitted now or up until the deadline. All papers will go through peer-review process. Accepted papers will be published in the journal (as soon as accepted) and meanwhile listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, reviews as well as short communications are preferred. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office to announce on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts will be thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. Please visit the Instruction for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) in this open access journal is 2500 USD. Submitted manuscripts should be well formatted in good English.