This is the last of a series of glossaries on terms used in genetic epidemiology published by the journal. This glossary covers the most advanced genetic terms, most of which are related to new study designs and laboratory techniques. It provides the reader with examples and references of real studies that applied each of the study designs defined in the glossary. This should help the reader gr...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The genetic/environmental etiology of Scheuermann's disease is unclear. We estimated the heritability of the disease using an etiological model adjusted for sex and time of diagnosis, and examined whether the prevalence of Scheuermann's disease was constant over time. METHODS 46,418 twins were sent a questionnaire about health and disease. Of these, 75% returned the que...

Perhaps more than any other domain, the search for etiologic factors in psychiatry has been characterized by an enduring "nature versus nurture" debate, with researchers in medicine, psychology, and public health traditionally emphasizing separate causal factors in the generation of mental disorders. More recently, researchers have increasingly embraced a biopsychosocial model based on a growin...

Large-scale, population-based studies of genetic epidemiology are under way or planned in several countries, including the UK. The results will have many implications for GPs and their patients. Primary care has much to contribute to this research, and basing genetic epidemiology studies in primary care will confer several advantages. These include enhanced public engagement, building on the pe...