This presentation will cover progress in psychiatric genetics, including methods used by the research community and major challenges faced by researchers engaged in genetic discovery for psychiatric conditions. An overview of major findings will be presented, with a focus on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, autism spectrum disorder, and suicide. The presentation will discuss necessary work required to bring research findings in psychiatric genetics into practical clinical practice, including use of genetic results to guide pharmacotherapy, to identify drug targets, to identify particular vulnerable subgroups, and to provide early identification for targeted interventions. Ethical implications and the need for careful use of results will be discussed.
After hearing this presentation, participations will be able to:
1. Quickly overview the latest information in the field of genetics as it relates to mental health and addictions and the treatment thereof; and,
2. Translate some of this knowledge into treatment implications including, but not limited to, use of pharmacologic agents and project some of the future directions of genetics in the behavioral health arenas.
