The dysbindin-1 (dystrobrevin-binding protein-1 [DTNBP-1]) gene has repeatedly been shown to be associated with psychotic disorder across diverse populations.
Our findings confirm the role of the dysbindin-1 gene in the risk for functional psychosis and show a differential haplotypic risk pattern in families with early as opposed to adult onset in the affected offspring.
Abnormal hippocampal and lateral ventricular volumes are among the most replicated endophenotypes for psychosis; however, the influences of COMT, BDNF, 5-HTT, NRG1 and DTNBP1 genes on these key brain regions must be very subtle if at all present.
Our genetic evidence suggests that DTNBP1 is involved in psychotic liability not only for schizophrenia but also for other psychotic disorders, including substance-induced psychosis.
Recent data suggests that the gene dysbindin (DTNBP1) may confer susceptibility across psychotic disorders and may particularly be associated with negative symptoms, i.e. affective flattening, alogia and avolition.
We also illustrate the use of the method for taking account of a dimensional measure of psychosis in a study of the schizophrenia susceptibility gene, dysbindin, in bipolar disorder.