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The Importance of Genetic Factors in the Etiology of Child Psychiatric Disorders

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Brain and Behavior in Child Psychiatry

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Abstract

The genetic study of childhood psychiatric disorders has advanced considerably over the past 20 years. All methodologies previously employed to investigate adult psychiatric disturbances are useful in the study of children. This chapter will review the approaches that have been utilized in the study of the genetic and environmental factors which predispose children to a number of psychiatric disturbances. Selected data from twin, aggregation, and adoption studies which exemplify these techniques will be presented. In addition, recent advances in molecular biology will be reviewed. We believe that these techniques hold the greatest promise for elucidating the fundamental biological processes responsible for childhood psychiatric disorders which have a genetic basis.

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Authors
  1. P. Lombroso
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  2. D. L. Pauls
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  3. J. F. Leckman
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrische Klinik am Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, J5, D-6800, Mannheim 1, Germany

    Aribert Rothenberger

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© 1990 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Lombroso, P., Pauls, D.L., Leckman, J.F. (1990). The Importance of Genetic Factors in the Etiology of Child Psychiatric Disorders. In: Rothenberger, A. (eds) Brain and Behavior in Child Psychiatry. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75342-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75342-8_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-75344-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-75342-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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