KEY DISCOVERIES
- Massive Scale: This landmark study analyzed genetic data from over 1 million people to map the roots of mental health.
- The 66% Rule: On average, 66% of the genetic risk for individual disorders is actually shared across broader “factors” rather than being unique to one condition.
- Chromosome 11 Hotspot: Researchers pinpointed a specific region on Chromosome 11 that acts as a major hub for psychiatric risk across eight different disorders.
- The “p-factor”: A single, general genetic liability exists that links traits like stress sensitivity, loneliness, and neuroticism to all 14 studied conditions.
- It Starts Early: The shared genetic signals are most active during fetal development, suggesting the biological foundation is laid before birth.
A Therapist’s Guide to the New Science of the Mind
For many people, the struggle with mental health does not come alone.
It is a common experience to face multiple overlapping conditions at once, such as dealing with anxiety while also managing depression or ADHD.
According to lead researcher Andrew D. Grotzinger and a massive global team from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, these overlaps are not a coincidence.
Writing in the prestigious journal Nature, the team reveals that our current way of naming disorders based only on symptoms may be hiding a deeper biological truth.
This research represents a breakthrough in how we understand the brain.
It suggests that many seemingly different conditions actually grow from the same genetic soil.
This discovery offers a new roadmap for more effective, personalized treatments that target the root cause rather than just the symptoms.
The Shared Roots of Struggle
The study examined 14 different conditions, ranging from childhood-onset disorders like autism and ADHD to adult-onset conditions like bipolar disorder and substance use.
Instead of finding 14 separate genetic codes, the researchers discovered that the majority of genetic risk is organized into five main “factors”.
The first major group is the Internalizing factor, where psychological distress is directed inward, rather than expressed through outward behavior.
This group includes major depression, PTSD, and anxiety.
These conditions show such high levels of genetic overlap that they are nearly indistinguishable at the DNA level.
Another powerful group is the SB factor, which stands for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
The researchers found that for these two conditions, the vast majority of the genetic signal is shared. This challenges the long held idea that these are entirely separate illnesses.
The Chromosome 11 Secret
One of the most exciting findings in this million-person study is a biological “hotspot” located on Chromosome 11.
This specific region was found to influence the risk for 8 out of the 14 disorders studied.
This hotspot contains a cluster of genes, including the well-known DRD2 gene, which is involved in how our brains process dopamine.
While this region has been studied before in relation to intelligence and personality, this new data confirms it is a central hub for psychiatric health.
It acts as a shared genetic signal that increases the risk for a wide variety of outcomes, from substance use to mood disorders.
A Blueprint Written Before Birth
The researchers did more than just map the DNA.
They looked at when and where these genes are most active in the human brain.
They discovered that the genes shared across all 14 disorders are primarily involved in early neurodevelopmental processes.
Specifically, these shared genetic signals are most active during the fetal stages and early life.
This suggests that the biological “vulnerability” to mental health struggles begins to take shape very early in our development.
Interestingly, different groups of disorders affect different parts of our brain’s machinery.
The schizophrenia and bipolar group is heavily linked to excitatory neurons, which are the cells that send signals throughout the brain.
In contrast, the depression and anxiety group is more closely associated with oligodendrocytes, the cells that provide the vital insulation for our brain’s wiring.
Understanding the “p-factor”
Beyond the five specific groups, the researchers identified a general “p-factor”.
This is a broad genetic liability that seems to underlie almost all psychiatric risk.
The Internalizing factor has the strongest connection to this universal root, showing a 95% overlap with the p-factor.
According to the research, this general factor is most strongly related to “negative emotionality”.
It shows high genetic overlap with traits like neuroticism, stress sensitivity, and loneliness.
This suggests that for many people, the genetic risk isn’t for one specific “disease,” but rather a general biological tendency to experience higher levels of emotional distress and sensitivity to the world around them.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
The most empowering takeaway of this global study is that because your DNA shares a universal signal, your self-help strategies can too.
Instead of playing whack-a-mole with individual symptoms, you can target the shared biological root of your struggle.
1. Stop Chasing Separate Labels
If you have both ADHD and Anxiety, you don’t necessarily need two completely different self-help plans.
- Shared Vulnerability: Many conditions, including ADHD and Anxiety, grow from the same “Neurodevelopmental” and “Internalizing” genetic soil.
- The Solution: Techniques that lower your overall stress sensitivity—such as mindfulness or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tools—can simultaneously quiet the “noise” of ADHD and the “fear” of anxiety.
2. Calm the “Genetic Engine”
Traits like neuroticism (a tendency to experience intense negative emotions) are 64% linked to the universal p-factor.
- The Genetic Link: This p-factor is the general DNA signal that increases risk for almost all 14 psychiatric disorders.
- Practice “Emotional Surf-boarding”: Learning to sit with a difficult emotion without reacting to it trains your brain to bypass that shared genetic vulnerability. By regulating the emotion itself, you are targeting the core signal found on Chromosome 11 and other “hotspots”.
3. Prioritize Social Connection as Medicine
Because loneliness has a massive 62% correlation with the p-factor, improving your “social diet” is actually a biological intervention.
- A Universal Signal: Loneliness is one of the strongest indicators of the shared genetic risk across all mental health conditions.
- Social Support: Building even one high-quality, supportive connection helps “dial down” the shared genetic alarm system in your brain.
Next Steps for Your Health
- Shift Your Focus: Look for “transdiagnostic” resources—tools designed to treat the emotional roots (like stress and regulation) rather than just one specific label.
- Consult Your Team: Ask your provider if your symptoms might be part of the same Internalizing or Neurodevelopmental family.
Reference
Grotzinger, A. D., Werme, J., Peyrot, W. J., Frei, O., de Leeuw, C., Bicks, L. K., … & Smoller, J. W. (2025). Mapping the genetic landscape across 14 psychiatric disorders. Nature, 1-15.
