It is not known whether and how epigenetic factors contribute to the pathophysiology of mental disorders. As possible mechanisms, epimutations during embryogenesis, epigenetic memory of environmental effects, and the role of epigenetic gene regulation in the action mechanisms of treatment may be considered. To date, detection of DNA methylation differences between twins discordant for mental disorders, and DNA methylation differences in candidate genes in the postmortem brains between patients with mental disorders and control subjects have been reported. More recently, several findings of epigenomic studies using genome-wide DNA methylation analysis have been reported. Further studies using this comprehensive analysis will provide insight into the role of epigenetics in mental disorders.

Keywords:
Epigenetics, DNA methylation, Histone modification, Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Depression
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© 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel
2009
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