Widely varying psychiatric disorders may be more genetically similar than previously thought, suggests research in Science. Researchers analyzed RNA from the cerebral cortices of more than 700 deceased patients who had had autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, alcoholism or no mental illness. They found broadly similar patters of gene expression in patients with autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression, even though the disorders have different clinical symptoms. Gene activity associated with alcoholism, in contrast, did not overlap with the other four disorders. (Monitor on Psychology)

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