A Susceptibility Gene for Affective Disorders and the Response of the Human Amygdala

Abstract

Mood and anxiety disorders are serious medical conditions associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality across the life span. Even with effective treatment, these conditions often recur and result in enormous personal, family, and societal costs. Thus, substantial effort is being made to identify both biological and environmental mechanisms that contribute to the diathesis for these illnesses.¹