PROTOCOL: Mapping the genetic research disparities and genetic architecture of mood disorders among African-ancestry populations: A scoping review

The present study seeks to undertake a scoping review of published literature on genetic landscape of mood and psychotic disorders among the general population in sub-Saharan Africa and African-ancestry populations. The purpose of this is to systematically map the research that has been done in this area, establish what has been published among Africans and African-ancestry populations and what it says about its impact on mood and psychotic disorders. The following research questions have therefore been formulated: 1. What contributions to the understanding of the genetic architecture of mood and psychotic disorders in Africa and African-ancestry populations have GWAS studies made? 2. What other types of genetic studies (epigenetic, candidate gene studies etc.) have been conducted in Africa and African-ancestry populations on mood and psychotic disorders? 3. What genetic impact (e.g. candidate genes and genetic variants) that are associated with phenotypic traits implicated in mood and psychotic disorders have been identified among African-ancestry populations? 4. What local capacity building has been achieved in African countries so far as genetic research on mood and psychotic disorders is concerned?