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Epigenetik–Revolution der Entwicklungspsychopathologie?

Published Online:August 31, 2012https://doi.org/10.1026/0942-5403/a000091

Abstract

Die Epigenetik, die sich mit der Bedeutung der Gene im Kontext der menschlichen Entwicklung beschäftigt, konnte zeigen, dass genetische Wirkungen auf die Entwicklung immer auf einer Wechselwirkung zwischen Genom und Umwelt basieren. Die Annahme, der genetische Einfluss auf die (psychische) Entwicklung sei konstant und nur durch gentechnologische Maßnahmen veränderbar, ist demnach offenbar ein Fehlschluss. Es werden Grundbegriffe der Epigenetik und aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse erörtert. Desweiteren wird diskutiert, ob epigenetische Prozesse die Pathogenese psychischer Störungen beeinflussen und ob diese Prozesse an bestimmte Entwicklungsphasen gebunden sind. Anschließend wird die Epigenetik im Kontext der Klinischen Kinderpsychologie betrachtet. Es wird diskutiert, ob die Epigenetik die Entwicklungspsychopathologie grundlegend verändert und welche Konsequenzen die neuen epigenetischen Erkenntnisse für die Klinische Kinderpsychologie bereithalten.


Epigenetics–revolutionizing developmental psychopathology?

Epigenetics, a discipline concerned with genes in the context of development, has shown that genetic influences on development are always based on an interaction between genome and environment. Therefore, the assumption that the genetic influence on (psychological) development is constant and can only be changed via genetic procedures is wrong. In this article, following a brief introduction to epigenetics, the influence of epigenetic processes on the pathogenesis of psychological disorders and whether these processes are bound to certain phases of development is reviewed. Subsequently, epigenetics is considered in the context of clinical psychology. Based on the findings presented throughout this article it is discussed whether epigenetics represents a revolution in developmental psychopathology and which consequences recent epigenetic findings have for clinical child psychology.

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