Since this discussion was brought up I thought I would start my own thread.
The purpose is to show that there has been a ton of hard science that has gone on and is going on in the area of molecular biology, genetics, and mental illness.
I believe there is a lot that is unknown and I think the bio/psycho/social model is the best we currently have. Biology, genetics, epi genetics, environment, life experience, society, culture, etc, are all possible factors.
It is my opinion that schizophrenia and bi polar I have the most evidence for biological/ genetic causes. My opinion, people will disagree.
I strongly believe that in the case of my severe depression the causes are very predominately biological/ genetic. I have lots of reasons to believe this that I have explained ad naseum in these forums. My causes and what treatments may or may not work for me may be very different than your causes and what treatments may or may not work for you. Besides my personal case I have always had a dream of being a research bio chemist. Depression got in the way but even at 50 I have not given up that dream.
Again the purpose of this thread is to point out some of the hard science that has gone on and is going on in psychiatry. It is one aspect. Others may know a lot more about how the DSM is developed or scientific studies done in psychology.
I don't think you can argue that the stuff below isn't hard science.
Biology of Depression/ Mental Illness
Genetics
Stem Cells Reveal How Illness-Linked Genetic Variation Affects Neurons - 08/18/2014
Common Genetic Variation Big Risk Factor for Alcoholism, Mental Illness - Addiction Treatment | Elements | Drug Rehab Treatment Centers
5 Major Mental Illnesses Traced to Same Genetic Variations | Psych Central News
http://www.journalofpsychiatricresea.../abstract?cc=y
NIMH · New Data Reveal Extent of Genetic Overlap Between Major Mental Disorders
Schizophrenia.com - Schizophrenia Genetics and Heredity
GenRED - Major Depression and Genetics - Genetics of Brain Function - Stanford University School of Medicine
Genetic Switch Involved in Depression - NIH Research Matters - National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Depression Research - Psych Central
Genetic link to depression found - Health News - NHS Choices
What causes depression? - Harvard Health Publications
New gene for bipolar disorder discovered -- ScienceDaily
Bipolar Disorder, Genetics, and the Brain :: DNA Learning Center
Schizophrenia and Manic-Depressive Disorder: The Biological Roots of Mental ... - Google Books
Cambridge Journals Online - Psychological Medicine - Abstract - Autism as a strongly genetic disorder: evidence from a British twin study
NIMH · Five Major Mental Disorders Share Genetic Roots
http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v45...l/ng.2711.html
https://www.nimhgenetics.org/
Genetic Mental Illnesses | DNA and Mental Illness | Psychiatrist in Scottsdale
Mental Illness: The Challenge of Dual Diagnosis
First Blood Test to Diagnose Depression in Adults: Northwestern University News
Clear New Insights into the Genetics of Depression - Scientific American
Massive Study Reveals Schizophrenia's Genetic Roots - Scientific American
Genome Biology | Full text | Hypermethylation in the ZBTB20 gene is associated with major depressive disorder
Translational Psychiatry - How the serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR polymorphism influences amygdala function: the roles of in vivo serotonin transporter expression and amygdala structure
Polymorphism in serotonin transporter gene associated with suscepti... - PubMed - NCBI
Receptor and transporter imaging studies in schizophrenia, depressi... - PubMed - NCBI
Neuropsychopharmacology - Serotonin 1A Receptors, Serotonin Transporter Binding and Serotonin Transporter mRNA Expression in the Brainstem of Depressed Suicide Victims
Animal models of depression in dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephr... - PubMed - NCBI
Hippocampus
Hippocampal volume loss in depression reflects glial loss -- ScienceDaily
The Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Newsletter
Depression, antidepressants, and the shrinking hippocampus
https://www.google.com/search?q=depr...Q&ved=0CDYQsAQ
Neurogenesis
Unraveling the Mystery of How Antidepression Drugs Work - Scientific American
Neuropsychopharmacology - Fluoxetine-Induced Cortical Adult Neurogenesis
Fluoxetine-induced cortical adult neurogenesis. - PubMed - NCBI
Antidepressants increase human hippocampal neurogenesis by activating the glucocorticoid receptor
Biology of Depression
Yale Scientific Magazine ? Uncovering the Biology of Depression
The Biology of Depression: How Stress Affects the Brain and the Body - UCTV - University of California Television
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/....2009.10030434
http://www.nyng.org/MP%20cytokine%20review.pdf
What causes depression? - Harvard Health Publications
Biology of Depression - Genetics and Imaging - Depression: Major Depression & Unipolar Varieties
http://www.wfsbp.org/fileadmin/user_...Depression.pdf
GenRED - Major Depression and Genetics - Genetics of Brain Function - Stanford University School of Medicine
Unkind Cytokines: A Journey from the Mind to Brain to Mind The Biological Basis of Depression -
Blood test accurately distinguishes depressed patients from healthy controls - Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
These Are Revolutionary Times for the Biology of Psychology | Psychology Today
http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs-wm/22664.pdf
http://www.cnsspectrums.com/aspx/art...articleid=1267
L-Methylfolate: A Promising Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression? | Psych Congress Network
Genetic Testing in Clinical Practice: What Psychiatrists Need to Know | Psych Congress Network
http://www.healio.com/psychiatry/jou...-a-case-report
MTHFR Genotyping Laboratory Genetic Test | Seeking Health
Mice Study Suggests Lack of Serotonin Not Behind Depression | Psych Central News
Effectiveness of Antidepressants
NIMH · Antidepressants: A complicated picture
Antidepressants: Effectiveness, Trials, Realistic Expectations
Antidepressants: Do They "Work" or Don't They? - Scientific American
NIMH · Questions and Answers about the NIMH Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) Study ? All Medication Levels
Are antidepressants really no better than sugar pills? | The Johns Hopkins News-Letter
Robert DeRubeis on anti-depressants | News Center | Stanford Medicine
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/op...anted=all&_r=0
Study confirms antidepressant efficacy | Yale Daily News
Biology of Schizophrenia
The biology of schizophrenia
International team sheds new light on biology underlying schizophrenia | Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Biological insights from 108 schizophrenia-associated genetic loci : Nature : Nature Publishing Group
Genes, environment and schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Patients' own cells yield new insights into the biology of schizophrenia - Salk Institute - News Release
Biology of Bi Polar
Understanding the basic biology of bipolar disorder | UCLA
http://www.ccnl.emory.edu/greg/Bipol...JMG%202003.pdf
The underlying neurobiology of bipolar disorder
YaleNews | Common biology shared in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder: leads from the molecular and cellular mechanisms of action of mood stabilisers