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Key TakeawaysMore than half of people that are diagnosed with one psychiatric disorder are diagnosed with a second or third in their lifetime.A recent study analyzing the genetic makeup of common psychiatric disorders found some commonalities.These findings could change the way mental health conditions are diagnosed and treated.

Key Takeaways

More than half of people that are diagnosed with one psychiatric disorder are diagnosed with a second or third in their lifetime.A recent study analyzing the genetic makeup of common psychiatric disorders found some commonalities.These findings could change the way mental health conditions are diagnosed and treated.

Today, it seems more common than not to receive multiple mental health condition diagnoses, orcomorbidities. In fact, research shows more than half of people that receive one psychiatric disorder diagnosis will receive a second or third diagnosis in their lifetime, while about a third will receive four or more.

We know about many factors that can contribute to a mental health diagnosis, but what about genetics? A recent study focused on the genetic analysis of some of the most common psychiatric conditions found that many disorders actually share a common genetic makeup.

The Research

Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and other collaborating institutions analyzed the genetic makeup of eleven major psychiatric conditions, includingbipolar disorder,post-traumatic stress disorder,major depressive disorder,anxiety disorder,schizophrenia,anorexia nervosa,obsessive-compulsive disorder,ADHD,Tourette’s syndrome, problematic alcohol use, andautism.

They were able to do so using data from hundreds of thousands of individuals that submitted genetic material to large-scale datasets.

Andrew Grotzinger, PhDThis study is a stepping stone toward creating a diagnostic manual that better maps on to what is actually happening biologically.

Andrew Grotzinger, PhD

This study is a stepping stone toward creating a diagnostic manual that better maps on to what is actually happening biologically.

The results revealed a shared genetic architecture between anorexia nervosa and obsessive compulsive disorder, as well as genetic overlap between anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.

The findings identified 152 genetic variants shared across multiple disorders, but it’s still unknown exactly what the genes do. Researchers hope this could be a step toward changing the way diagnoses are administered and eventually lead to treatments that address multiple psychiatric conditions at once, rather than piecemeal.

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“If you had a cold, you wouldn’t want to be diagnosed with coughing disorder, sneezing disorder, and aching joints disorder,” said lead study author Andrew Grotzinger in a statement. “This study is a stepping stone toward creating a diagnostic manual that better maps on to what is actually happening biologically.”

“Depression can look like anger or irritability in a child, or PTSD could look like acting out,” Flood says. “If a teen or child struggles to develop rapport with their psychologist and their parents can’t describe what’s happening, genetics could help identify the problem more quickly.”

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The Challenges of Polypharmacy

Meanwhile, the prevalence of psychiatric polypharmacy, or the prescription of two or more psychiatric medications to a patient at the same time, varies between 13-90%.It presents challenges for both patients and practitioners.Research has shown that “low levels of literacy and high levels of material disadvantage, which are common among public mental health service users, make managing and understanding multiple medications more difficult.”

Jacquelyn Flood, PsyDIf a teen or child struggles to develop rapport with their psychologist and their parents can’t describe what’s happening, genetics could help identify the problem more quickly.

Jacquelyn Flood, PsyD

If a teen or child struggles to develop rapport with their psychologist and their parents can’t describe what’s happening, genetics could help identify the problem more quickly.

For healthcare professionals, it’s common for a team of physicians to work together in determining the appropriate treatment for comorbidities, so it’s important that an individual’s doctors are aware of all medications and over-the-counter treatments they’re taking. Many medications can have negative side effects when taken together.

Because polypharmacy can be necessary and justified for certain patients, physicians are advised to approach prescribing multiple medications using the acronym SAIL.

S: Keep drug regimenSimple

A: know drugAdverse effects

I: The prescribed drug should have a clearIndication

L: keepList of drug name and dosage in patient’s chart

and TIDE:

T:AllowTime to address medication issues

I:understandIndividual variability

D:avoid potential dangerousDrug-drug interactions

E:Educate patients regarding treatment.

“Today, diagnostics requires a lot of investigation,” Flood says. “Once I’ve gathered all of this information, I can recommend treatment—but I have to jump through a lot of hoops to eventually get there.”

As genetic research like this continues to advance, managing medications and finding the most effective and streamlined treatment regimen could become much easier.

What This Means For YouIf you receive multiple psychiatric diagnoses, it’s crucial to tell your doctor about any prescribed and/or over-the-counter medications you’re taking, as certain medications can have adverse effects when interacting with other drugs.

What This Means For You

If you receive multiple psychiatric diagnoses, it’s crucial to tell your doctor about any prescribed and/or over-the-counter medications you’re taking, as certain medications can have adverse effects when interacting with other drugs.

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4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Grotzinger AD, Mallard TT, Akingbuwa WA, et al.Genetic architecture of 11 major psychiatric disorders at biobehavioral, functional genomic and molecular genetic levels of analysis.Nat Genet. 2022;54(5):548-559. doi:10.1038/s41588-022-01057-4Kukreja S, Kalra G, Shah N, Shrivastava A,Polypharmacy in psychiatry: A review.Mens Sana Monogr. 2013;11(1):82. doi:10.4103/0973-1229.104497Sartorious N.Comorbidity of mental and physical diseases: A main challenge for medicine of the 21st century.Shanghai Arch Psychiatry. 2013;25(2):68-69. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-0829.2013.02.002Scoglio AAJ, Adams WE, Lincoln AK.Meaning and management of multiple medications among public mental health service users.Community Ment Health J. 2020;56(2):313-321. doi:10.1007/s10597-019-00491-9

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Grotzinger AD, Mallard TT, Akingbuwa WA, et al.Genetic architecture of 11 major psychiatric disorders at biobehavioral, functional genomic and molecular genetic levels of analysis.Nat Genet. 2022;54(5):548-559. doi:10.1038/s41588-022-01057-4Kukreja S, Kalra G, Shah N, Shrivastava A,Polypharmacy in psychiatry: A review.Mens Sana Monogr. 2013;11(1):82. doi:10.4103/0973-1229.104497Sartorious N.Comorbidity of mental and physical diseases: A main challenge for medicine of the 21st century.Shanghai Arch Psychiatry. 2013;25(2):68-69. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-0829.2013.02.002Scoglio AAJ, Adams WE, Lincoln AK.Meaning and management of multiple medications among public mental health service users.Community Ment Health J. 2020;56(2):313-321. doi:10.1007/s10597-019-00491-9

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Grotzinger AD, Mallard TT, Akingbuwa WA, et al.Genetic architecture of 11 major psychiatric disorders at biobehavioral, functional genomic and molecular genetic levels of analysis.Nat Genet. 2022;54(5):548-559. doi:10.1038/s41588-022-01057-4Kukreja S, Kalra G, Shah N, Shrivastava A,Polypharmacy in psychiatry: A review.Mens Sana Monogr. 2013;11(1):82. doi:10.4103/0973-1229.104497Sartorious N.Comorbidity of mental and physical diseases: A main challenge for medicine of the 21st century.Shanghai Arch Psychiatry. 2013;25(2):68-69. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-0829.2013.02.002Scoglio AAJ, Adams WE, Lincoln AK.Meaning and management of multiple medications among public mental health service users.Community Ment Health J. 2020;56(2):313-321. doi:10.1007/s10597-019-00491-9

Grotzinger AD, Mallard TT, Akingbuwa WA, et al.Genetic architecture of 11 major psychiatric disorders at biobehavioral, functional genomic and molecular genetic levels of analysis.Nat Genet. 2022;54(5):548-559. doi:10.1038/s41588-022-01057-4

Kukreja S, Kalra G, Shah N, Shrivastava A,Polypharmacy in psychiatry: A review.Mens Sana Monogr. 2013;11(1):82. doi:10.4103/0973-1229.104497

Sartorious N.Comorbidity of mental and physical diseases: A main challenge for medicine of the 21st century.Shanghai Arch Psychiatry. 2013;25(2):68-69. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-0829.2013.02.002

Scoglio AAJ, Adams WE, Lincoln AK.Meaning and management of multiple medications among public mental health service users.Community Ment Health J. 2020;56(2):313-321. doi:10.1007/s10597-019-00491-9

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