1. The talk will cover the results from the recent Psychiatric Genomics Consortium Bipolar Disorder study published in Nature. Specifically, it will focus on the use of community/biobank studies and self-report data in genetic studies of bipolar disorder, and the implications for research in this field.
Title: New genomics discoveries across the bipolar disorder spectrum
Speaker: Kevin O'Connell, Norway
2. People with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, experience markedly higher rates of physical health problems, contributing to premature mortality. While lifestyle and treatment factors are well-recognised drivers, the role of genetic liability in physical comorbidities has remained underexplored. This talk presents findings from the REALMENT study showing that polygenic risk for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease is associated with physical health outcomes in this population, with effects comparable to those observed in the general population. By contrast, psychiatric genetic liabilities showed weaker links. These results demonstrate that genetic predisposition to physical illness is an important, independent factor in shaping health trajectories in severe mental illness, alongside environmental and clinical influences.
Title: Untangling genetic contributions to physical health comorbidities in severe mental illness
Speaker: Djennifer Kappel, United Kingdom
ECNP-REALMENT webinar series: The ECNP-REALMENT webinar series provides researchers and clinicians with new insights into precision psychiatry and the optimization of treatments for severe mental disorders. Aiming to foster discussion and encourage collaboration across the psychiatric research community, the series covers topics ranging from genetics, predictive modelling, and artificial intelligence to biomarkers and strategies for translating research into clinical practice.
Each webinar features unique perspectives from project partners, promoting the exchange of ideas and supporting the application of scientific discoveries to improve patient outcomes.
