Multivariate and multi-trait analyses in psychiatric genetics

Psychiatric disorders exhibit complex genetic characteristics such as substantial polygenicity, pleiotropy, and genetic overlap, making them difficult to fully understand through studies focused solely on single genes or individual diseases. This review underscores the importance of multivariate and multi-trait analyses in psychiatric genetics and provides a comprehensive overview of major analytical tools, including their concepts, strengths, limitations, and applications. By addressing the current methodological challenges and proposing future directions, we aim to advance our understanding of the genetic architecture underlying psychiatric disorders and support progress towards precision medicine.