Duplications of the neuropeptide receptor gene VIPR2 confer significant risk for schizophrenia

Substantial risk for schizophrenia is conferred by large copy number variants at a number of genomic loci. Here, a significant association between duplications on chromosome 7 and schizophrenia is reported. Importantly, microduplication analysis narrowed down the region to a region just upstream of a gene encoding vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor (VIPR2). Increased expression of VIPR2 in patients with schizophrenia implicates VIP signalling as a molecular mechanism underlying schizophrenia.