An advance in understanding of the genetic origins of schizophrenia has been made by the Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. In a genome-wide association study, the researchers identified previously unreported schizophrenia-associated loci. The study included 36 989 patients with schizophrenia, and 113 075 controls. 128 independent associations were identified across 108 loci. Genes identified within the implicated loci included DRD2 (dopamine receptor) and GRM3 (metabotropic glutamate receptor)—both of which could be of therapeutic importance in schizophrenia—and other genes involved in glutamatergic neurotransmission, neuronal calcium signalling, synaptic function and plasticity, and neurodevelopment. According to researchers, results from a clinical trial suggest that gamma ventral capsulotomy could have a role in the treatment of patients with intractable obsessive-compulsive disorder. In the study, 16 patients were randomly assigned to gamma ventral capsulotomy or sham intervention. At 12 months, mean symptom score (measured with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale) was 20·9 (SD 11·0) in the intervention group compared with 31·9 (4·1) in the sham group (p=0·046). Three of eight patients (38%) in the intervention arm responded at 12 months (absolute risk reduction 0·375, 95% CI 0·04–0·71); during open-label follow-up, the number of responders increased to 63% (5/8) at 54 months. Although most adverse events were short-lived, one patient in the intervention arm developed radiation-induced perilesional oedema 8 months after radiosurgery; at month 54, the patient developed a brain cyst. A report from a long-term follow-up of a trial of psychotherapy in social anxiety disorder shows promising results. In their original trial, researchers assessed the effect of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy on rates of remission and response. Subsequently, patients were followed up for up to 24 months after therapy. By the end of the follow-up period there were no significant differences between the two treatment modalities with respect to response and remission rates or secondary outcome measures. In intention-to-treat analysis with multiple imputation for missing data, 24 months after treatment the response rate was 69% in both the CBT group (n=209) and psychodynamic therapy group (n=207), and remission rates were 39% and 38%, respectively. Researchers of a small multifaceted study propose that screening for suicidal behaviour in at-risk populations with a biomarker could be possible in the future. The authors carried out genome-wide DNA methylation screening using post-mortem brain samples. They identified genetic and epigenetic variation within the SKA2 gene as being associated with suicide cases; results were replicated in two independent cohorts. Further investigation showed that there was significantly (p<0·001) lower gene expression of SKA2 in the post-mortem brain samples from the suicide cases (n=23) than in samples from the comparison group (n=35), and that expression was negatively associated with DNA methylation status. A link between SKA2 variation and suicidal ideation was confirmed with blood samples from three living cohorts. “Future studies should be carried out to further evaluate the prospective efficacy of this finding in additional populations”, concluded the authors. Some insight into the molecular basis of fear memory consolidation has been provided by researchers who showed in a study in adult mice that shortly after auditory fear conditioning, miR-34a was significantly upregulated in the amygdala compared with controls (p<0·05). Analysis suggested that miR-34a targeted the Notch pathway, and that Notch pathway mRNA and protein levels were decreased in the amygdala of mice after auditory fear conditioning. Increased downstream Notch signalling in the amygdala was associated with a lower freeze response to an auditory cue after auditory fear conditioning than in control mice (p=0·043)—ie, decreased fear memory consolidation. The authors concluded, “We would do well to co-opt relevant therapeutic agents that regulate Notch signalling and use them in the treatment or prevention of disorders [with] a substantial memory component.” Data from a cohort study provide further insight into the links between electronic gaming and psychosocial adjustment. Using a subsample from a UK longitudinal study, a cohort of young people aged 10–15 years (2436 boys and 2463 girls) were studied. Compared with non-players, young people engaging in game play of less than 1 h per day had higher prosocial behaviour and life satisfaction (p<0·001). There was no difference in the results of psychosocial assessments between young people partaking in game play of 1–3 h per day and non-players. However, game play of more than 3 h per day was associated with lower levels of prosocial behaviour and life satisfaction, and more internalising and externalising problems, than in non–players (p<0·001).