Abstract

Comorbidity is the rule, not the exception in psychiatry. To develop more effective prevention and intervention initiatives, it is crucial to understand the causal mechanisms underlying the network of psychiatric disorders.

Traditional epidemiological methods are often constrained by unmeasured confounding, whereas genetic approaches can overcome these limitations and provide novel insights into causal relationships. In this talk, I will discuss my experience using observational data and genetic information to investigate causal relationships between complex psychiatric conditions. Additionally, I will present our work utilising family-based cohort data to study the intergenerational transmission of mental health problems. Finally, I will provide a brief overview of our plans to use genetics to enhance our understanding of childhood psychopathology and disease development.