The Role of Gene-Environment Interaction in Mental Health and Susceptibility to the Development of Psychiatric Disorders

The current chapter aims to present a concise but comprehensive review of the current state of gene-by-environment interaction (GxE) research in the field of psychiatric genetics, with a special focus on research from molecular genetic studies. The chapter starts with a review of GxE studies of mental health disorders which includes both recent genome-wide GxE studies, as well as candidate gene studies, since the latter comprise the majority of such studies conducted in the field so far. Next, we critically evaluate the research conducted in the field so far, taking into account the methodological limitations of these studies, as well as recent theoretical concepts of Environmental Sensitivity, such as Differential Susceptibility, that challenge historic assumptions underlying GxE models. The chapter ends with suggestions and directions for future GxE research in mental health.