Rare copy number variants: a point of rarity in genetic risk for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Abstract

Context: Recent studies suggest that copy number variation in the human genome is extensive and may play an important role in susceptibility to disease, including neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. The possible involvement of copy number variants (CNVs) in bipolar disorder has received little attention to date.

Objectives: To determine whether large (>100,000 base pairs) and rare (found in <1% of the population) CNVs are associated with susceptibility to bipolar disorder and to compare with findings in schizophrenia.

Design: A genome-wide survey of large, rare CNVs in a case-control sample using a high-density microarray.

Setting: The Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium.

Participants: There were 1697 cases of bipolar disorder and 2806 nonpsychiatric controls. All participants were white UK residents.

Main outcome measures: Overall load of CNVs and presence of rare CNVs.

Results: The burden of CNVs in bipolar disorder was not increased compared with controls and was significantly less than in schizophrenia cases. The CNVs previously implicated in the etiology of schizophrenia were not more common in cases with bipolar disorder.

Conclusions: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder differ with respect to CNV burden in general and association with specific CNVs in particular. Our data are consistent with the possibility that possession of large, rare deletions may modify the phenotype in those at risk of psychosis: those possessing such events are more likely to be diagnosed as having schizophrenia, and those without them are more likely to be diagnosed as having bipolar disorder.