Dr. Kendler’s research focuses on studies of psychiatric genetics in brain and behavior disorders such as schizophrenia, major depression, alcoholism, personality disorders and nicotine dependence. He utilizes methods ranging from family studies to large-sample population-based twin studies to molecular genetic studies aimed at identifying specific genes that influence the vulnerability to developing these illnesses. Data collection for these studies has been completed in Virginia, Ireland, China, Norway and Sweden.
Dr. Kendler has been involved in DSM-III-R, DSM-IV and most recently, DSM-5 where he chaired the Scientific Review Committee.