Autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder share molecular traits, study finds

Most medical conditions are largely defined by their physical symptoms. Psychiatric illnesses, however, are largely defined by a person’s behavior. A new study challenges that distinction, identifying many shared — and distinct — patterns of gene expression in the brains of people with autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The data hint at potential targets that may one day lead to new treatment approaches.