507. Association of NRXN3 Deletion with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) are the most severe neuropsychiatric disorders affecting 1.2% and 4.4% of Americans, respectively. Certain genes coding for proteins involved in pre-synaptic machinery are thought to play a role in the pathophysiology of the disorder. Deficits in the calcium channel regulator gene NRXN3 have been associated with behaviors of impulsivity and alcohol and drug dependence, which are traits characteristic of BD and SZ.