Oxytocin-pathway polygenic scores for severe mental disorders and metabolic phenotypes in the UK Biobank | Translational Psychiatry

A study published in Translational Psychiatry utilized genetic data from approximately 480,000 individuals in the UK Biobank to investigate the relationship between the oxytocin pathway, severe mental disorders, and metabolic health. The researchers developed polygenic scores specific to the oxytocin system and found statistically significant associations with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. These findings suggest that genetic variations in the oxytocin pathway may partially explain the high co-occurrence of metabolic and cardiometabolic conditions in patients with severe mental illness.