Assortative Mating-A Missing Piece in the Jigsaw of Psychiatric Genetics

JAMA Psychiatry. 2016 Apr;73(4):323-4. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.3204.

Abstract

The topic of assortative (nonrandom) mating might seem esoteric or even salacious. For example, in lectures you have to point out to students that random mating is not about promiscuity. In this issue of JAMA Psychiatry, Nordsletten and colleagues report the first general population study to date of assortative mating for psychiatric disorders, which may help to solve 3 puzzles in psychiatric genetics: Why are psychiatric disorders so highly heritable when they are associated with reduced fecundity? Why are some psychiatric disorders so much more highly heritable than others? Why is there so much genetic comorbidity across psychiatric disorders?

Publication types

  • Editorial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mental Disorders / genetics*
  • Spouses / psychology*