Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - 2006 - Volume 29, Issue 04  


Open Peer Commentary

Genes for susceptibility to mental disorder are not mental disorder: Clarifying the target of evolutionary analysis and the role of the environment

Nicholas B. Allen a1 and Paul B. T. Badcock a2
a1 Department of Psychology and ORYGEN Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010 Australia; nba@unimelb.edu.au
a2 Department of Psychology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010 Australia. p.badcock@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au http://www.psych.unimelb.edu.au/people/staff/AllenN.html

Article author query
allen nb   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
badcock pb   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

In this commentary, we critique the appropriate behavioural features for evolutionary genetic analysis, the role of the environment, and the viability of a general evolutionary genetic model for all common mental disorders. In light of these issues, we suggest that the authors may have prematurely discounted the role of some of the mechanisms they review, particularly balancing selection.

(Published Online November 9 2006)