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In response to reported schizophrenia linkage findings on chromosomes 3, 6 and 8, fourteen research groups genotyped 14 microsatellite markers in an unbiased, collaborative (New) sample of 403-567 informative pedigrees per marker, and in the Original sample which produced each finding (the Johns Hopkins University sample of 46-52 informative pedigrees for chromosomes 3 and 8, and the Medical College of Virginia sample of 156-191 informative pedigrees for chromosome 6). Primary planned analyses (New sample) were two-point heterogeneity lod score (lod2) tests (dominant and recessive affected-only models), and multipoint affected sibling pair (ASP) analysis, with a narrow diagnostic model (DSM-IIIR schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders). Regions with positive results were also analyzed in the Original and Combined samples. There was no evidence for linkage on chromosome 3. For chromosome 6, ASP maximum lod scores (MLS) were 2.19 (New sample, nominal p = 0.001) and 2.68 (Combined sample, p = .0004). For chromosome 8, maximum lod2 scores (tests of linkage with heterogeneity) were 2.22 (New sample, p = .0014) and 3.06 (Combined sample, p = .00018). Results are interpreted as inconclusive but suggestive of linkage in the latter two regions. We discuss possible reasons for failing to achieve a conclusive result in this large sample. Design issues and limitations of this type of collaborative study are discussed, and it is concluded that multicenter follow-up linkage studies of complex disorders can help to direct research efforts toward promising regions.

We have recently described a family in which there is cosegregation of major affective disorder with Darier's disease and have mapped this autosomal dominant skin disorder to 12q23-q24.1. This has provided an interesting candidate region for genetic studies of bipolar disorder. We have studied the segregation of seven markers spanning the Darier's disease locus in 45 bipolar disorder pedigrees and found modest evidence in support of linkage under heterogeneity for 5 of these markers. Nonparametric analyses were suggestive of linkage with a marker at the gene encoding a secretory form of phospholipase A2. Our sample has relatively low power to detect linkage under heterogeneity and independent researchers should examine markers from this region in further samples of bipolar pedigrees.

Several pieces of evidence are consistent with the involvement of dopamine neurotransmission in the aetiology of bipolar disorder. We have tested the hypothesis that the functional mutation Ser311-->Cys of the dopamine D2 receptor gene confers susceptibility to bipolar disorder. There was no increased frequency of the mutation in 82 bipolar probands compared with 72 controls, showing that this mutation is not involved in the pathogenesis of (at least) the vast majority of cases of bipolar disorder. Our findings are consistent with other evidence from linkage and association studies against the involvement of the dopamine D2 receptor in bipolar disorder.

Darier's disease is a rare autosomal dominant skin disorder in which there is abnormal adhesion between keratinocytes. It appears to be associated with an increased prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders including mental retardation and epilepsy. In addition we have previously reported a family in which major affective disorder cosegregates with Darier's disease. In the present study we have localized the gene for Darier's disease to chromosome 12q23-q24.1 by linkage analysis in five British pedigrees. We obtained a maximum two point lod score of 4.29 with marker D12S84 at zero recombination fraction. All five families showed evidence of linkage between the disease gene and markers in this region. Subsequent identification of the Darier's disease gene will provide insights into normal mechanisms of cell adhesion and may be of importance in the genetic investigation of neuropsychiatric disorders as well as elucidating the pathogenesis of Darier's disease itself.