Four actionable bottlenecks and potential solutions to translating psychiatric genetics research: An expert review

• Authors: Jessica L Bourdon, Washington University in St. Louis; Rachel A Davies, Emory University; Elizabeth C Long, Pennsylvania State University
• Journal Title: Public Health Genomics
• Volume: Volume 23, Number 5-6
• Publisher: Karger Publishers | 2021-11-04, Pages 171-183
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1159/000510832
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Mental Health
• Keywords: translational science; psychiatric disorders; genetics

Abstract

Background. Psychiatric genetics has had limited success in translational efforts. A thorough understanding of the present state of translation in this field will be useful in the facilitation and assessment of future translational progress. Purpose. A narrative literature review was conducted. Combinations of three groups of terms were searched in EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, and PubMed. The review occurred in multiple steps, including abstract collection, inclusion/exclusion criteria review, coding, and analysis of included papers. Results. One hundred and fourteen articles were analyzed for the narrative review. Across those, four bottlenecks were noted that, if addressed, may provide insights and help improve and increase translation in the field of psychiatric genetics. These four bottlenecks are: emphasizing linear translational frameworks, relying on molecular genomic findings, prioritizing certain psychiatric disorders, and publishing more reviews than experiments. Conclusions. These entwined bottlenecks are examined with one another. Awareness of these bottlenecks can inform stakeholders who work to translate and/or utilize psychiatric genetic information. Potential solutions include utilizing non-linear translational frameworks as well as a wider array of psychiatric genetic information (e.g., family history, gene-environment interplay) in this area of research, expanding which psychiatric disorders are considered for translation, and when possible, conducting original research. Researchers are urged to more consider how their research is translational in the context of the frameworks, genetic information, and psychiatric disorders discussed in this review. At a broader level, these efforts should be supported with translational efforts in funding and policy shifts.