Mental Illnesses May Share The Same Genetic Roots, Experts Report

For decades, psychiatry has treated conditions like depression , bipolar disorder and schizophrenia as separate illnesses, each with its own labels, treatment plans and medications. But a major new genetics study suggests the lines between these mental health conditions may be far blurrier than previously thought.

Published this month in Nature, the research analysed psychiatric and genetic data from more than six million people worldwide. Reports indicate that many common mental illnesses share the same underlying genetic drivers, suggesting they may arise from related biological processes rather than entirely separate causes.

A Shared Genetic Foundation

The study examined data from over one million people diagnosed with one of 14 psychiatric disorders , alongside genetic information from more than five million people without such diagnoses. Rather than showing distinct genetic signatures for each condition, the research revealed extensive overlap.

The disorders clustered into five broad groups:

• Internalising conditions such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder
• Neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and ADHD
• Substance use disorders
• Compulsive conditions including OCD and anorexia
• A fifth group containing bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia were found to share roughly 70% of their genetic risk factors, highlighting how closely some psychiatric conditions may be connected.

What This Could Mean for Treatment

The findings may help explain why some medications work across multiple diagnoses. For example, antidepressants often improve symptoms not only for depression but also for anxiety and PTSD. Instead of treating symptoms in isolation, targeting shared biological pathways could lead to more effective therapies.

Reports suggest a biologically informed approach could also reduce the burden on patients who currently receive multiple overlapping diagnoses, each requiring different treatments. One comparison notes the current system is like treating a cough, sore throat and runny nose separately rather than recognising a single underlying infection.

Genes, Brains and Biology

The study identified 238 genetic variants linked across the 14 disorders, many of which regulate brain functions and how neurons transmit signals.

One hotspot on chromosome 11 stood out for its role in increasing risk across eight different conditions. This region includes the DRD2 gene, which regulates dopamine, a key chemical in mood, motivation, reward and cognition and the main target of many antipsychotic drugs.

Limits and Caution

Despite the scale of the study, experts caution that genes are only part of the story. Life experiences, stress, trauma and environment also play a crucial role in mental health.

Most existing genetic data comes from people of European ancestry, which may limit how widely the findings apply. Researchers are working to expand genetic databases to include more diverse populations.

Even with shared biology , patients with the same diagnosis may not respond identically to treatment, explaining why medications work for some but not others.

Will Psychiatry Change?

These findings arrive as preparations begin for future editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the system used to classify psychiatric conditions.

While change may be gradual, reports suggest psychiatry could move away from rigid labels toward a model that better reflects how the brain actually works. One report notes that the coming decade could bring more change to mental health care than the past century combined.

Disclaimer: We at NewsPoint are not medical or mental health professionals. The information in this article is based on reports and research findings. Readers should consult qualified experts for advice regarding mental health conditions.