Possible linkage of schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder to chromosome 3q29; a follow-up.

The present linkage study is a follow-up within the chromosome 3q29 region in schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder families, based on our recently published genome scan, resulting in evidence for linkage of both disorders to this region (marker D3S1265: NPL [non parametric lod] score Z(all)=3.74, P=0.003).

Serotonin transporter promoter gene polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and personality in female patients with seasonal affective disorder and in healthy controls.

Serotonergic pathways have been related to altered personality patterns in seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The short allele (s) of a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter promoter gene (5-HTTLPR) has been associated with neuroticism and anxiety-related personality traits in healthy volunteers. We investigated personality and 5-HTTLPR in female SAD patients using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).

Anxiety as a predictor of relapse in detoxified alcohol-dependent patients.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of mood, affect, and personality on predicting relapse in detoxified alcohol-dependent patients to uncontrolled drinking during a 1-year treatment study.

Methods: A total of 521 patients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of alcohol dependence, excluding those with major depressive disorder, took part in a European multicentre study (11 centres in the United Kingdom, Irish Republic, Switzerland, and Austria). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale, whereas symptoms of anxiety were measured using the 'STAI-X2' of the self-rating scale State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and personality traits were measured by the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire.

Genome scan for susceptibility loci for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Background: Despite the widely accepted view that schizophrenia and bipolar disorder represent independent illnesses and modes of inheritance, some data in the literature suggest that the diseases may share some genetic susceptibility. The objective of our analyses was to search for vulnerability loci for the two disorders.

Methods: A genomewide map of 388 microsatellite DNA markers was genotyped in five schizophrenia and three bipolar disorder Austrian families.

Prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in female patients with seasonal affective disorder.

Background: Both seasonal affective disorder/winter type (SAD) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) are cyclical disorders characterized by so-called atypical depressive symptoms. In the present study we compared the point prevalence rates of PMDD between a sample of premenopausal female patients suffering from SAD and healthy female controls.

Methods: Forty-six female patients with SAD and 46 healthy controls were included in our study.