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State of the Art 7
Biological Markers for Psychosis and Their Genetic Influences
Dr Elvira Bramon
University College London
Over one hundred genetic loci are associated with increased risk of developing schizophrenia
and other psychotic disorders. Similarly, there are a few rare genetic variants that have large odds
ratios for schizophrenia and other developmental disorders. Biological markers that characterise
psychotic disorders and other populations at risk constitute ideal alternative phenotypes
(endophenotypes) for genetic association studies. Biological markers of brain structure or function
obtained from MRI scans or cognitive or EEG testing have been identified. They will help us to
unravel the functional effects of genetic variants involved in the aetiology of psychosis.
