Advances in Epigenetics of Mental Disorders
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 880
Special Issue Editor
Interests: schizophrenia; psychoses; neuroimaging; omic sicence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The study of epigenetics has emerged as a critical frontier in our understanding of the intricate relationship between genes and the environment in the development and progression of mental disorders. Epigenetic processes, which regulate gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence, have been increasingly recognized as a key mechanism by which environmental factors can influence the risk and manifestation of conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and eating disorders.
Mounting evidence suggests that epigenetic modifications, driven by factors like nutrition, stress, and early-life experiences, can lead to long-lasting changes in brain function and behavior, ultimately contributing to the onset and trajectory of mental disorders. Whereas genetic studies have identified numerous risk loci associated with these conditions, the complex interplay between genes and environment remains incompletely understood. Studies on the epigenetics of mental disorders have the potential to elucidate novel pathways and targets for prevention and intervention, as epigenetic changes may be reversible or amenable to pharmacological modulation.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Epigenetic or epigenomic studies in patients with mental disorders;
- Epigenetic or epigenomic studies on animal or cellular models of mental disorders;
- Studies on the gene–environment interactions in mental disorders.
Dr. Claudio Brasso
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- mental disorders
- epigenetic
- epigenomic
- gene–environment interactions
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
