I can buy into genetics playing a part in mental illness. What i don't buy into is how psychiatry plays 'fast and loose with the genetics factor.

For example schizophrenia is seen as a 'genetic disorder' with heritability rates of around 40-50%
and yet borderline personality disorder is seen as being due to 'learned behaviour' with heritability rates ranging from 39-68%.(Using Google search for 'borderline personality' and heritability)

One is shoved on axis 1 and the other on axis 2. This is clearly nonsensical and illustrates the bias of those working within the psychiatric profession and the effect of diagnostic turf wars between psychiatrists and psychologists.

A lot of the 'Is it genetic or not?'/axis 1 or 2' seem also to be tied in with whether meds work or not.
The distinction being that meds work for schizophrenia and are not that effective for something like borderline PD.

Two problems here

(1) Meds for sz don't work as effectively as they are trumpeted to work.
Several studies have come out saying that the atypicals aren't really any more effective for sz than the first generation antipsychotics . neither the conventional or atypicals are overly effective when it comes to the cognitive problems that are reckoned to be the most disabling aspect of schizophrenia.

(2)As stated here

"Officially recognized in 1980 by the psychiatric community, borderline personality disorder is at least two decades behind in research, treatment options and education compared to other serious mental illnesses. Congressional Resolution, H. Res. 1005, is awaiting final action to designate May as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month."

Schizophrenia under the old name of 'Dementia Praecox' was first identified as a discreet mental illness by Emile Krapelinin in 1887. 121 years on and we still don't have a totally effective medication for schizophrenia though there are meds that work to some extend.[The first of these coming into regular use in the mid 50s(68 odd years after sz was first identified as a 'discreet mental illness')]

It is therefore the height of folly to dismiss borderline PD in terms of being not amenable to pharmacotherapy and therefore by derault 'non genetic' after only being officially in existence for 28 years.

Ditto re how long manic depression/bipolar was around before lithium proved effective for certain types of the illness ie the so called 'classical' type.

I like this quote from Mcmanweb http://www.mcmanweb.com/borderline.html

"Unexpectedly, the first borderline discussion there occurred during question time at a packed luncheon symposium on bipolar II. One of the presenters, Terence Ketter MD of Stanford, happened to say that as opposed to bipolar disorder, which is about MOOD lability (volatility), borderline personality disorder is about EMOTIONAL lability. As soon as they develop an emotion stabilizer (analogous to a mood stabilizer), he said, borderline personality disorder will become an Axis I disorder rather than Axis II.

Axis I disorders, as categorized by the DSM-IV, include bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and other illnesses regarded as biologically-based and treatable with medications. Axis II disorders tend to get a lot less respect. As well as borderline personality disorder, these include antisocial personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and a host of behaviors that impede personal and social function."

I think if the psychiatric profession were more consistent and honest when it comes to the genetics angle people would accept it more.

As it is as an intelligent person with a mental illness i get increasingly pissed off with the bull %#@&#! that stems from those opposed to psychiatry ie the anti psychiatry mob and the bull %#@&#! that stems from those working in the psychiatric profession.
Whichever way you flip the coin you get disingenuity/disinformation/and hyperbole in liberal measures.
Psychiatry over here is increasingly being hijacked as a vehicle for pushing government social policy rather than meeting the varying individual needs of the mentally ill.

Also i'm browned off with the long running turf war between psychiatrists and psychologists who seem to be content to see who can intellectually outdo one another at the expense of the clients they are supposed to be helping.