Besides assisting the hunt for disorder-relevant genes [reports by Dick et al., 2006, and Hill et al., 2004, illustrate how P3AR and other EEG endophenotypes can aid this process], a valid endophenotype offers other benefits as well. It is difficult to create animal analogs of psychiatric disorder, but it may be possible to develop an animal model based on the identification of an endophenotype analog, thereby enabling research into underlying biological mechanisms (Gould & Gottesman, 2006). Possession of a valid endophenotype could help narrow a diagnosis, establish who is best suited for a particular treatment, and be used to identify those who are unaffected but nevertheless possess elevated disorder liability risk. Because ultimately an endophenotype would provide important information about underlying biological mechanisms and etiology, it could also be used to help develop an etiologically informed diagnostic system.
