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Badini I, Jayaweera K, Pannala G, Adikari A, Siribaddana S, Sumathipala A, McAdams TA, Harber-Aschan L, Hotopf M, Rijsdijk FV, Zavos HMS. Associations between socioeconomic factors and depression in Sri Lanka: The role of gene-environment interplay. J Affect Disord 2023; 340:1-9. [PMID: 37467802 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low socioeconomic status is a risk factor for depression. The nature and magnitude of associations can differ cross-culturally and is influenced by a range of contextual factors. We examined the aetiology of socioeconomic indicators and depression symptoms and investigated whether socioeconomic indicators moderate genetic and environmental influences on depression symptoms in a Sri Lankan population. METHODS Data were from a population-based sample of twins (N = 2934) and singletons (N = 1035) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Standard of living, educational attainment, and financial strain were used to index socioeconomic status. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Revised Beck Depression Inventory. Structural equation modelling explored genetic and environmental influences on socioeconomic indicators and depression symptoms and moderation of aetiological influences on depression symptoms by socioeconomic status. RESULTS Depression symptoms were associated with lower standard of living, lower educational attainment, and financial strain. Sex differences were evident in the aetiology of standard of living, with a small contribution of genetic influences in females. Educational attainment was moderately heritable in both males and females. Total variance in depression was greater among less socioeconomically advantaged individuals. Modest evidence of moderation of the aetiology of depression by standard of living and education was observed. LIMITATIONS While the sample is representative of individuals living in Colombo District, it may not be representative of different regions of Sri Lanka. CONCLUSIONS The aetiology of depression varies across socioeconomic contexts, suggesting a potential mechanism through which socioeconomic disadvantage increases the risk for depression in Sri Lanka. Findings have implications for cross-cultural investigations of the role of socioeconomic factors in depression and for identifying targets for social interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Badini
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom.
| | - Kaushalya Jayaweera
- Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Gayani Pannala
- Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Anushka Adikari
- Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | | | - Athula Sumathipala
- Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Research Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Keele University, Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK
| | - Tom A McAdams
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom; Promenta Centre, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Lisa Harber-Aschan
- Psychological Medicine Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Hotopf
- Psychological Medicine Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Fruhling V Rijsdijk
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Social Sciences, Anton de Kom University of Suriname
| | - Helena M S Zavos
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
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Wechsler DL, Rijsdijk FV, Adamo N, Eilertsen EM, Ahmadzadeh YI, Badini I, Hannigan LJ, Ystrom E, McAdams TA. Assessing aetiological overlap between child and adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in an extended family design. BJPsych Open 2023; 9:e169. [PMID: 37671545 PMCID: PMC10617499 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2023.554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several longitudinal studies have cast doubt on the aetiological overlap between child and adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, a lack of genetically sensitive data following children across adulthood precludes direct evaluation of aetiological overlap between child and adult ADHD. AIMS We circumvent the existing gap in longitudinal data by exploring genetic overlap between maternal (adult) and offspring (child) ADHD and comorbid symptoms in an extended family cohort. METHOD Data were drawn from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study, a Norwegian birth registry cohort of 114 500 children and their parents. Medical Birth Registry of Norway data were used to link extended families. Mothers self-reported their own ADHD symptoms when children were aged 3 years; reported children's ADHD symptoms at age 5 years; and children's ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder, anxiety and depression symptoms at age 8 years. Genetic correlations were derived from Multiple-Children-of-Twins-and-Siblings and extended bivariate twin models. RESULTS Phenotypic correlations between adult ADHD symptoms and child ADHD, ODD, conduct disorder, anxiety and depression symptoms at age 8 years were underpinned by medium-to-large genetic correlations (child ADHD: rG = 0.55, 95% CI 0.43-0.93; ODD: rG = 0.80, 95% CI 0.46-1; conduct disorder: rG = 0.44, 95% CI 0.28-1; anxiety: rG = 0.72, 95% CI 0.48-1; depression: rG = 1, 95% CI 0.66-1). These cross-generational adult-child genetic correlations were of a comparable magnitude to equivalent child-child genetic correlations with ADHD symptoms at age 5 years. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide genetically sensitive evidence that ADHD symptoms in adulthood share a common genetic architecture with symptoms of ADHD and four comorbid disorders at age 8 years. These findings suggest that in the majority of cases, ADHD symptoms in adulthood are not aetiologically distinct from in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L. Wechsler
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Fruhling V. Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Anton de Kom University, Suriname
| | - Nicoletta Adamo
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Espen M. Eilertsen
- PROMENTA Research Centre, University of Oslo, Norway; and Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yasmin I. Ahmadzadeh
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Isabella Badini
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Laurie J. Hannigan
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway; and Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- PROMENTA Research Centre, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; and School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Tom A. McAdams
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and PROMENTA Research Centre, University of Oslo, Norway
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The rise of social media use in young people has sparked concern about the impact of cyber-victimisation on mental health. Although cyber-victimisation is associated with mental health problems, it is not known whether such associations reflect genetic and environmental confounding. METHODS We used the co-twin control design to test the direct association between cyber-victimisation and multiple domains of mental health in young people. Participants were 7708 twins drawn from the Twins Early Development Study, a UK-based population cohort followed from birth to age 22. RESULTS Monozygotic twins exposed to greater levels of cyber-victimisation had more symptoms of internalising, externalising and psychotic disorders than their less victimised co-twins at age 22, even after accounting for face-to-face peer victimisation and prior mental health. However, effect sizes from the most stringent monozygotic co-twin control analyses were decreased by two thirds from associations at the individual level [pooled β across all mental health problems = 0.06 (95% CI 0.03-0.10) v. 0.17 (95% CI 0.15-0.19) in individual-level analyses]. CONCLUSIONS Cyber-victimisation has a small direct association with multiple mental health problems in young people. However, a large part of the association between cyber-victimisation and mental health is due to pre-existing genetic and environmental vulnerabilities and co-occurring face-to-face victimisation. Therefore, preventative interventions should target cyber-victimisation in conjunction with pre-existing mental health vulnerabilities and other forms of victimisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie R Baldwin
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ziada Ayorech
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Fruhling V Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tabea Schoeler
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jean-Baptiste Pingault
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Eilertsen EM, Hannigan LJ, McAdams TA, Rijsdijk FV, Czajkowski N, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Ystrom E, Gjerde LC. Parental Prenatal Symptoms of Depression and Offspring Symptoms of ADHD: A Genetically Informed Intergenerational Study. J Atten Disord 2021; 25:1554-1563. [PMID: 32338109 DOI: 10.1177/1087054720914386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Objective: The primary aim of the present study was to separate the direct effect of maternal prenatal depression on offspring ADHD from the passive transmission of genetic liability. Method: A children-of-twins and siblings design including 17,070 extended-family units participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study was used. Self-ratings were obtained from parents using the Symptom Checklist during pregnancy. Maternal ratings using Conner's Parent Rating Scale were obtained when the children were 5 years of age. Results: Genetic influences were important for explaining similarity between parents and offspring. There was also evidence for a maternal effect after accounting for genetic transmission (m = 0.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.02, 0.09]). Conclusion: Our results were consistent with hypotheses suggesting that maternal prenatal depression influences symptoms of ADHD in offspring. However, the effect was weak and a substantial portion of the association could be accounted for by shared genetic influences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nikolai Czajkowski
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,University of Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Eivind Ystrom
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Line C Gjerde
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,University of Oslo, Norway
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Abstract
In this review, we discuss how samples comprising monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs can be used for the purpose of strengthening causal inference by controlling for shared influences on exposure and outcome. We begin by briefly introducing how twin data can be used to inform the biometric decomposition of population variance into genetic, shared environmental, and nonshared environmental influences. We then discuss how extensions to this model can be used to explore whether associations between exposure and outcome survive correction for shared etiology (common causes). We review several analytical approaches that can be applied to twin data for this purpose. These include multivariate structural equation models, cotwin control methods, direction of causation models (cross-sectional and longitudinal), and extended family designs used to assess intergenerational associations. We conclude by highlighting some of the limitations and considerations that researchers should be aware of when using twin data for the purposes of interrogating causal hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom A McAdams
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Promenta Research Centre, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Fruhling V Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Helena M S Zavos
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-Baptiste Pingault
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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Gjerde LC, Eilertsen EM, Hannigan LJ, Eley T, Røysamb E, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Rijsdijk FV, McAdams TA, Ystrom E. Associations between maternal depressive symptoms and risk for offspring early-life psychopathology: the role of genetic and non-genetic mechanisms. Psychol Med 2021; 51:441-449. [PMID: 31813389 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291719003301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although maternal depressive symptoms are robustly associated with offspring early-life psychopathology symptoms, it is not clear which potential mechanisms are at play. We aimed to estimate the relative importance of genetic transmission and direct environmental exposure in these associations on three occasions in early childhood. METHODS Biometric modeling of maternal sisters and their offspring from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. The analyzed sample comprised 22 316 mothers and 35 589 offspring. Mothers reported their own depressive symptoms using the Symptom checklist, and offspring's concurrent symptoms of psychopathology using the Child Behavior Checklist at 1.5, 3, and 5 years postpartum. RESULTS Associations between maternal symptoms of depression and offspring emotional problems were predominantly explained by passive genetic transmission at 1.5 and 3 years postpartum. At age 5, associations were more due to direct environmental exposure. For offspring behavioral problems, there was no net increase in the importance of direct environmental exposure across occasions. CONCLUSIONS Associations between maternal depressive symptoms and offspring psychopathology symptoms remained after accounting for shared genes, consistent with a small, causal effect. For offspring emotional problems, this effect appeared to increase in importance over time. Our findings imply that treatment of maternal depressive symptoms could also benefit the offspring, and that genetic confounding should be considered in future studies of such mother-offspring associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line C Gjerde
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- PROMENTA Research Center, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Espen M Eilertsen
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Thalia Eley
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Espen Røysamb
- PROMENTA Research Center, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Child Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Fruhling V Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tom A McAdams
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- PROMENTA Research Center, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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McAdams TA, Hannigan LJ, Eilertsen EM, Gjerde LC, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Eley TC, Rijsdijk FV, Ystrom E. Is it time to reevaluate prenatal mental health? - Author's reply. Lancet Psychiatry 2019; 6:93-94. [PMID: 30686392 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(19)30004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tom A McAdams
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Laurie J Hannigan
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Espen Moen Eilertsen
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Line C Gjerde
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Thalia C Eley
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Fruhling V Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Hannigan LJ, Eilertsen EM, Gjerde LC, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Eley TC, Rijsdijk FV, Ystrom E, McAdams TA. Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and risk for early-life psychopathology in offspring: genetic analyses in the Norwegian Mother and Child Birth Cohort Study. Lancet Psychiatry 2018; 5:808-815. [PMID: 30245187 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(18)30225-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal prenatal depression is a known risk factor for early-life psychopathology among offspring; however, potential risk transmission mechanisms need to be distinguished. We aimed to test the relative importance of passive genetic transmission, direct exposure, and indirect exposure in the association between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and early-life internalising and externalising psychopathology in offspring. METHODS We used structural equation modelling of phenotypic data and genetically informative relationships from the families of participants in the Norwegian Mother and Child Birth Cohort Study (MoBa). The analytic subsample of MoBa used in the current study comprises 22 195 mothers and 35 299 children. We used mothers' self-reported depressive symptoms during pregnancy, as captured by the Symptom Checklist, and their reports of symptoms of psychopathology in their offspring during the first few years of life (measured at 18, 36, and 60 months using the Child Behavior Checklist). FINDINGS Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms were found to be associated with early-life psychopathology primarily via intergenerationally shared genetic factors, which explained 41% (95% CI 36-46) of variance in children's internalising problems and 37% (30-44) of variance in children's externalising problems. For internalising problems, phenotypic transmission also contributed significantly, accounting for 14% (95% CI 5-19) of the association, but this contribution was found to be explained by exposure to concurrent maternal depressive symptoms, rather than by direct exposure in utero. INTERPRETATION Associations between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and offspring behavioural outcomes in early childhood are likely to be at least partially explained by shared genes. This genetic confounding should be considered when attempting to quantify risks posed by in-utero exposure to maternal depressive symptoms. FUNDING UK Economic and Social Research Council, Norwegian Research Council, Norwegian Ministries of Health and Care Services, and Education & Research, Wellcome Trust, Royal Society, and National Institute for Health Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie J Hannigan
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Medical Research Council Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Espen Moen Eilertsen
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Line C Gjerde
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Thalia C Eley
- Medical Research Council Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Fruhling V Rijsdijk
- Medical Research Council Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tom A McAdams
- Medical Research Council Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
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McAdams TA, Hannigan LJ, Eilertsen EM, Gjerde LC, Ystrom E, Rijsdijk FV. Revisiting the Children-of-Twins Design: Improving Existing Models for the Exploration of Intergenerational Associations. Behav Genet 2018; 48:397-412. [PMID: 29961153 PMCID: PMC6097723 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-018-9912-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Datasets comprising twins and their children can be a useful tool for understanding the nature of intergenerational associations between parent and offspring phenotypes. In the present article we explore structural equation models previously used to analyse Children-of-Twins data, highlighting some limitations and considerations. We then present new variants of these models, showing that extending the models to include multiple offspring per parent addresses several of the limitations discussed. Accompanying the updated models, we provide power calculations and demonstrate with application to simulated data. We then apply to intergenerational analyses of height and weight, using a sub-study of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort (MoBa); the Intergenerational Transmission of Risk (IToR) project, wherein all kinships in the MoBa data have been identified (a children-of-twins-and-siblings study). Finally, we consider how to interpret the findings of these models and discuss future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom A McAdams
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College, De Crespigny Park, Box PO80, SE5 8AF, London, UK.
| | - Laurie J Hannigan
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College, De Crespigny Park, Box PO80, SE5 8AF, London, UK
| | - Espen Moen Eilertsen
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Line C Gjerde
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Fruhling V Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College, De Crespigny Park, Box PO80, SE5 8AF, London, UK
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McAdams TA, Rijsdijk FV, Narusyte J, Ganiban JM, Reiss D, Spotts E, Neiderhiser JM, Lichtenstein P, Eley TC. Associations between the parent-child relationship and adolescent self-worth: a genetically informed study of twin parents and their adolescent children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2017; 58:46-54. [PMID: 27426633 PMCID: PMC5215430 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low self-worth during adolescence predicts a range of emotional and behavioural problems. As such, identifying potential sources of influence on self-worth is important. Aspects of the parent-child relationship are often associated with adolescent self-worth but to date it is unclear whether such associations may be attributable to familial confounding (e.g. genetic relatedness). We set out to clarify the nature of relationships between parental expressed affection and adolescent self-worth, and parent-child closeness and adolescent self-worth. METHODS We used data from the Twin and Offspring Study in Sweden, a children-of-twins sample comprising 909 adult twin pairs with adolescent children. Using these data we were able to apply structural equation models with which we could examine whether associations remained after accounting for genetic transmission. RESULTS Results demonstrated that parent-child closeness and parental-expressed affection were both phenotypically associated with adolescent self-worth. Associations could not be attributed to genetic relatedness between parent and child. CONCLUSIONS Parent-child closeness and parental affection are associated with adolescent self-worth above and beyond effects attributable to genetic relatedness. Data were cross-sectional, so the direction of effects cannot be confirmed but findings support the notion that positive parent-child relationships increase adolescent self-worth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom A. McAdams
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & NeuroscienceMRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry CentreKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Fruhling V. Rijsdijk
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & NeuroscienceMRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry CentreKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Jurgita Narusyte
- Division of Insurance MedicineDepartment of Clinical NeuroscienceKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Jody M. Ganiban
- Department of PsychologyGeorge Washington UniversityWashingtonDCUSA
| | | | - Erica Spotts
- Office of Behavioral and Social Science ResearchNIHBethesdaMDUSA
| | | | - Paul Lichtenstein
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsKarolinksa InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Thalia C. Eley
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & NeuroscienceMRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry CentreKing's College LondonLondonUK
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Gregory AM, Rijsdijk FV, Eley TC, Buysse DJ, Schneider MN, Parsons M, Barclay NL. A Longitudinal Twin and Sibling Study of Associations between Insomnia and Depression Symptoms in Young Adults. Sleep 2016; 39:1985-1992. [PMID: 27634812 DOI: 10.5665/sleep.6228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES To estimate genetic and environmental influences on the associations between insomnia and depression symptoms concurrently and longitudinally. METHODS Behavioral genetic analyses were conducted on data from the British longitudinal G1219 twin/sibling study. One thousand five hundred fiftysix twins and siblings participated at Time 1 (mean age = 20.3 years, SD = 1.76). Eight hundred sixty-two participated at Time 2 (mean age = 25.2 years, SD = 1.73 years). Participants completed the Insomnia Symptoms Questionnaire and the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire to assess symptoms of insomnia and depression respectively. RESULTS Genetic effects accounted for 33% to 41% of the variance of the phenotypes. The phenotypic correlations were moderate (r = 0.34 to r = 0.52). The genetic correlations between the variables were high (0.73-1.00). Genetic effects accounted for a substantial proportion of the associations between variables (50% to 90%). Non-shared environmental effects explained the rest of the variance and covariance of the traits. CONCLUSIONS While genetic effects play a modest role in insomnia and depression symptoms separately, they appear to play a more central role in concurrent and longitudinal associations between these phenotypes. This should be acknowledged in theories explaining these common associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice M Gregory
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
| | - Fruhling V Rijsdijk
- MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London UK
| | - Thalia C Eley
- MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London UK
| | - Daniel J Buysse
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
| | | | | | - Nicola L Barclay
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, UK
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Eley TC, McAdams TA, Rijsdijk FV, Lichtenstein P, Narusyte J, Reiss D, Spotts EL, Ganiban JM, Neiderhiser JM. The Intergenerational Transmission of Anxiety: A Children-of-Twins Study. Am J Psychiatry 2015; 172:630-7. [PMID: 25906669 PMCID: PMC8515953 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.14070818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The transmission of anxiety within families is well recognized, but the underlying processes are poorly understood. Twin studies of adolescent anxiety demonstrate both genetic and environmental influence, and multiple aspects of parenting are associated with offspring anxiety. To date, the children-of-twins design has not been used to evaluate the relative contributions of genetic transmission compared with direct transmission of anxiety from parents to their offspring. METHOD Anxiety and neuroticism measures were completed by 385 monozygotic and 486 dizygotic same-sex twin families (37% male twin pair families) from the Twin and Offspring Study in Sweden. Structural equation models tested for the presence of both genetic and environmental transmission from one generation to the next. RESULTS For both anxiety and neuroticism, the models provide support for significant direct environmental transmission from parents to their adolescent offspring. In contrast, there was no evidence of significant genetic transmission. CONCLUSIONS The association between parental and offspring anxiety largely arises because of a direct association between parents and their children independent of genetic confounds. The lack of genetic transmission may reflect there being different genetic effects on these traits in adolescence and adulthood. Direct environmental transmission is in line with developmental theories of anxiety suggesting that children and adolescents learn anxious behaviors from their parents through a number of pathways such as modeling. Future analyses should combine children-of-twins data with child twin data in order to examine whether this direct effect solely represents parental influences on the offspring or whether it also includes child/adolescent anxiety evoking parental anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalia C Eley
- From King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London; the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Conn.; the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH, Bethesda, Md.; the Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC; and the Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa
| | - Tom A McAdams
- From King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London; the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Conn.; the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH, Bethesda, Md.; the Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC; and the Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa
| | - Fruhling V Rijsdijk
- From King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London; the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Conn.; the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH, Bethesda, Md.; the Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC; and the Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa
| | - Paul Lichtenstein
- From King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London; the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Conn.; the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH, Bethesda, Md.; the Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC; and the Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa
| | - Jurgita Narusyte
- From King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London; the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Conn.; the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH, Bethesda, Md.; the Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC; and the Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa
| | - David Reiss
- From King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London; the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Conn.; the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH, Bethesda, Md.; the Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC; and the Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa
| | - Erica L Spotts
- From King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London; the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Conn.; the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH, Bethesda, Md.; the Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC; and the Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa
| | - Jody M Ganiban
- From King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London; the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Conn.; the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH, Bethesda, Md.; the Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC; and the Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa
| | - Jenae M Neiderhiser
- From King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London; the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Conn.; the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH, Bethesda, Md.; the Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC; and the Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa
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McAdams TA, Neiderhiser JM, Rijsdijk FV, Narusyte J, Lichtenstein P, Eley TC. Accounting for genetic and environmental confounds in associations between parent and child characteristics: a systematic review of children-of-twins studies. Psychol Bull 2014; 140:1138-73. [PMID: 24749497 DOI: 10.1037/a0036416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Parental psychopathology, parenting style, and the quality of intrafamilial relationships are all associated with child mental health outcomes. However, most research can say little about the causal pathways underlying these associations. This is because most studies are not genetically informative and are therefore not able to account for the possibility that associations are confounded by gene-environment correlation. That is, biological parents not only provide a rearing environment for their child, but also contribute 50% of their genes. Any associations between parental phenotype and child phenotype are therefore potentially confounded. One technique for disentangling genetic from environmental effects is the children-of-twins (COT) method. This involves using data sets comprising twin parents and their children to distinguish genetic from environmental associations between parent and child phenotypes. The COT technique has grown in popularity in the last decade, and we predict that this surge in popularity will continue. In the present article we explain the COT method for those unfamiliar with its use. We present the logic underlying this approach, discuss strengths and weaknesses, and highlight important methodological considerations for researchers interested in the COT method. We also cover variations on basic COT approaches, including the extended-COT method, capable of distinguishing forms of gene-environment correlation. We then present a systematic review of all the behavioral COT studies published to date. These studies cover such diverse phenotypes as psychosis, substance abuse, internalizing, externalizing, parenting, and marital difficulties. In reviewing this literature, we highlight past applications, identify emergent patterns, and suggest avenues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom A McAdams
- MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London
| | | | - Fruhling V Rijsdijk
- MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London
| | | | - Paul Lichtenstein
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet
| | - Thalia C Eley
- MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London
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Holmboe K, Rijsdijk FV, Hallett V, Happé F, Plomin R, Ronald A. Strong genetic influences on the stability of autistic traits in childhood. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2014; 53:221-30. [PMID: 24472256 PMCID: PMC3919213 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2013.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Revised: 08/19/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Disorders on the autism spectrum, as well as autistic traits in the general population, have been found to be both highly stable across age and highly heritable at individual ages. However, little is known about the overlap in genetic and environmental influences on autistic traits across age and the contribution of such influences to trait stability itself. The present study investigated these questions in a general population sample of twins. METHOD More than 6,000 twin pairs were rated on an established scale of autistic traits by their parents at 8, 9, and 12 years of age and by their teachers at 9 and 12 years of age. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. RESULTS The results indicated that, consistently across raters, not only were autistic traits stable, and moderately to highly heritable at individual ages, but there was also a high degree of overlap in genetic influences across age. Furthermore, autistic trait stability could largely be accounted for by genetic factors, with the environment unique to each twin playing a minor role. The environment shared by twins had virtually no effect on the longitudinal stability in autistic traits. CONCLUSIONS Autistic traits are highly stable across middle childhood. and this stability is caused primarily by genetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Holmboe
- Department of Psychology at the the University of Essex.
| | - Fruhling V. Rijsdijk
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London
| | - Victoria Hallett
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London
| | - Francesca Happé
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London
| | - Robert Plomin
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London
| | - Angelica Ronald
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London
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15
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Gregory AM, Buysse DJ, Willis TA, Rijsdijk FV, Maughan B, Rowe R, Cartwright S, Barclay NL, Eley TC. Associations between sleep quality and anxiety and depression symptoms in a sample of young adult twins and siblings. J Psychosom Res 2011; 71:250-5. [PMID: 21911103 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2010] [Revised: 12/07/2010] [Accepted: 03/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Little is known about the aetiology of the links between sleep disturbance and anxiety and depression symptoms. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic and environmental influences on these associations. METHODS Questionnaires were completed by 1556 young adults from twin and sibling pairs (61.5% female). RESULTS Sleep disturbance was moderately correlated with symptoms of anxiety (r=.39) and depression (r=.50). There was substantial overlap between genes influencing sleep disturbance and those influencing symptoms of anxiety (rA=.58) and depression (rA=.68). Overall, the associations between sleep and symptoms of both anxiety and depression were mainly due to genes (explaining 74% and 58% of the covariances respectively), with the remainder due to nonshared environmental factors. CONCLUSIONS Moderate phenotypic and genetic correlations between the phenotypes support the view that sleep disturbance is related to the presence of various psychiatric difficulties, but also warrants independent consideration and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice M Gregory
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London and MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, United Kingdom.
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16
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Iervolino AC, Rijsdijk FV, Cherkas L, Fullana MA, Mataix-Cols D. A Multivariate Twin Study of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Dimensions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 68:637-44. [DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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17
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Owens SF, Picchioni MM, Rijsdijk FV, Stahl D, Vassos E, Rodger AK, Collier DA, Murray RM, Toulopoulou T. Genetic overlap between episodic memory deficits and schizophrenia: results from the Maudsley Twin Study. Psychol Med 2011; 41:521-532. [PMID: 20459888 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291710000942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visual and verbal episodic memory deficits are putative endophenotypes for schizophrenia; however, the extent of any genetic overlap of these with schizophrenia is unclear. In this study, we set out to quantify the genetic and environmental contributions to variance in visual and verbal memory performance, and to quantify their genetic relationship with schizophrenia. METHOD We applied bivariate genetic modelling to 280 twins in a classic twin study design, including monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) pairs concordant and discordant for schizophrenia, and healthy control twins. We assessed episodic memory using subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale - Revised (WMS-R). RESULTS Genetic influences (i.e. heritability) contributed significantly to variance in immediate recall of both verbal memory and visual learning, and the delayed recall of verbal and visual memory. Liability to schizophrenia was associated with memory impairment, with evidence of significant phenotypic correlations between all episodic memory measures and schizophrenia. Genetic factors were the main source of the phenotypic correlations for immediate recall of visual learning material; both immediate and delayed recall of verbal memory; and delayed recall of visual memory that, for example, shared genetic variance with schizophrenia, which accounted for 88% of the phenotypic correlation (rph=0.41) between the two. CONCLUSIONS Verbal memory and visual learning and memory are moderately heritable, share a genetic overlap with schizophrenia and are valid endophenotypes for the condition. The inclusion of these endophenotypes in genetic association studies may improve the power to detect susceptibility genes for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- S F Owens
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, King's Health Partners, UK.
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18
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Barclay NL, Eley TC, Buysse DJ, Rijsdijk FV, Gregory AM. Genetic and environmental influences on different components of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and their overlap. Sleep 2010; 33:659-68. [PMID: 20469808 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/33.5.659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES To examine the extent to which genetic and environmental factors influence components of sleep quality; the degree to which these components co-occur; and genetic and environmental influences on this co-occurrence. DESIGN Twin study. SETTING Population based twin registry across the U.K. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS Four hundred twenty monozygotic twins, 773 dizygotic twins, and 363 siblings (mode age = 20 years; range 18 to 27 years). INTERVENTIONS N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) assessed 7 components of sleep quality which overlap to varying degrees. Genetic influence on individual components ranged from 0% to 47%. The remaining source of variance was non-shared environment, except for "sleep duration", for which shared environmental influences were important. Phenotypic correlations between components ranged from 0.22 to 0.61. Bivariate analyses indicated substantial overlap between genes influencing phenotypes (10 of 15 correlations were > or = 0.69); and in general, genetic influence accounted for roughly half the association (> 40% in 9 of 15 correlations). Non-shared environmental influences were in general less correlated across variables (11 of 15 were < 0.4), but owing to their greater influence on each variable, still accounted for roughly half of each association (> or = 40% in 12 of 15 correlations). CONCLUSIONS Genetic and non-shared environmental factors are most important in explaining individual differences with regards to different components of sleep quality, although shared environment may influence sleep duration. The pattern of overlap in the genetic and environmental influences accounting for the associations between components of sleep quality is consistent with that seen in other areas of developmental psychopathology of general genes and specific non-shared environmental influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola L Barclay
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK.
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Rijsdijk FV, Rijsdijsk FV, Viding E, De Brito S, Forgiarini M, Mechelli A, Jones AP, McCrory E. Heritable variations in gray matter concentration as a potential endophenotype for psychopathic traits. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 67:406-13. [PMID: 20368516 DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Genetic vulnerability to psychopathic traits is likely to also manifest at the neural level. We have recently reported increased gray matter concentration in several brain areas in boys with psychopathic traits. OBJECTIVE To explore whether these gray matter concentration differences can be regarded as endophenotypes for psychopathic traits by (1) assessing their heritability and (2) examining the etiology of the co-occurrence of psychopathic traits and increased gray matter concentration. DESIGN Community twin sample. SETTING On-campus neuroimaging facility. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS One hundred twenty-three male twins (56 monozygotic and 67 dizygotic individuals; mean age 11.55 years; range, 10-13 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We analyzed structural magnetic resonance imaging scans. Voxel-based morphometry analyses were used to obtain gray matter concentration values that were analyzed in a biometrical genetic twin model. RESULTS Left posterior cingulate and right dorsal anterior cingulate gray matter concentrations were found to be the strongest endophenotype markers, with heritability estimates of 46% and 37%, respectively, and common genes explaining the phenotypic relationship between these regions and psychopathic traits. No significant heritabilities were found for several regions, including the right orbitofrontal cortex and insula. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that structural endophenotypes, in the form of variations in gray matter concentration, reflect genetic vulnerability for psychopathic traits. Specifically, gray matter concentration in the left posterior cingulate and right dorsal anterior cingulate, brain areas implicated in empathy, moral processing, and introspection, are potential candidate endophenotypes for psychopathic traits.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior research on the nature of the vulnerability of neuroticism to psychopathology suggests biases in information processing towards emotional rather than neutral information. It is unclear to what extent this relationship can be explained by genetic or environmental factors. METHOD The genetic relationship between a neuroticism composite score and free recall of pleasant and unpleasant words and the reaction time on negative probes (dot-probe task) was investigated in 125 female twin pairs. Interaction effects were modelled to test whether the correlation between neuroticism and cognitive measures depended on the level of the neuroticism score. RESULTS The only significant correlation was between neuroticism and the proportion of recalled unpleasant words (heritability is 30%), and was only detectable at the higher end of the neuroticism distribution. This interaction effect seems to be due to environmental effects that make people in the same family more similar (e.g. parental discipline style), rather than genetic factors. An interesting sub-finding was that faster reaction times for left versus right visual field probes in the dot-probe task suggest that cognitive processing in the right hemisphere is more sensitive to subliminal (biologically relevant) cues and that this characteristic is under substantial genetic control (49%). Individual differences in reaction times on right visual field probes were due to environmental effects only. CONCLUSIONS There is no evidence that the predisposition of individuals to focus on negative (emotional) stimuli is a possible underlying genetic mechanism of neuroticism.
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Affiliation(s)
- F V Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
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Rowe R, Rijsdijk FV, Maughan B, Eley TC, Hosang GM, Eley TC. Heterogeneity in antisocial behaviours and comorbidity with depressed mood: a behavioural genetic approach. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2008; 49:526-34. [PMID: 18400059 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01834.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antisocial behaviour is often comorbid with depressed mood but is itself a collection of heterogeneous behaviours. Using a genetically informative design, we examine heterogeneity in antisocial behaviour and overlaps between different forms of antisocial behaviour with depressed mood. METHODS Data were drawn from the G1219 large-scale community sample containing self-report questionnaire data from 941 twin pairs and 328 sibling-pairs aged 12-21 years. RESULTS Inter-correlations among oppositionality, physical aggression and delinquency, and between the antisocial subscales and depressed mood, were mediated by genetic and non-shared environmental influences. Genetic factors generally contributed more to the correlations than the non-shared environment. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that many genetic and non-shared environmental influences were common to all the traits studied, but there was also evidence for trait-specific effects.
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Eley TC, Rijsdijk FV, Perrin S, O'Connor TG, Bolton D. A multivariate genetic analysis of specific phobia, separation anxiety and social phobia in early childhood. J Abnorm Child Psychol 2008; 36:839-48. [PMID: 18270811 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-008-9216-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2007] [Accepted: 01/17/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comorbidity amongst anxiety disorders is very common in children as in adults and leads to considerable distress and impairment, yet is poorly understood. Multivariate genetic analyses can shed light on the origins of this comorbidity by revealing whether genetic or environmental risks for one disorder also influence another. We examined the genetic and environmental influences on the comorbidity between three common childhood anxiety disorders: Specific Phobia, Separation Anxiety and Social Phobia. METHODS Using a two-phase design 4,662 twin-pairs were screened in the first phase and 854 pairs were assessed in the second phase by maternal-informant diagnostic interview using DSM-IV criteria. RESULTS Multivariate genetic analysis revealed significant shared environmental over-lap between Specific Phobia and Separation Anxiety and significant familial and non-shared environmental over-lap between Specific Phobia and Social Phobia. CONCLUSIONS Familial influences, especially shared environment, are central to the comorbidity between Specific Phobia and both Separation Anxiety and Social Phobia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalia C Eley
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, De'Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
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Ormel J, Rijsdijk FV, Riese H, Snieder H, Rosmalen JGM. Comment on: Kendler KS, Myers J, Torgersen S, Neale MC, Reichborn-Kjennerud T. (2007) The heritability of cluster A personality disorders assessed by both personal interview and questionnaire. Psychol Med; 37:655-665. Psychol Med 2008; 38:153-154. [PMID: 18329980 DOI: 10.1017/s003329170700150x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Eley TC, Gregory AM, Lau JYF, McGuffin P, Napolitano M, Rijsdijk FV, Clark DM. In the Face of Uncertainty: A Twin Study of Ambiguous Information, Anxiety and Depression in Children. J Abnorm Child Psychol 2007; 36:55-65. [PMID: 17687641 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-007-9159-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2006] [Accepted: 06/26/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety and depression share genetic influences, and have been associated with similar cognitive biases. Psychological theories of anxiety and depression highlight threat interpretations of ambiguity. Little is known about whether genes influence cognitive style, or its links to symptoms. We assessed ambiguous word and scenario interpretations, anxiety and depression symptoms in 300 8-year-old twin pairs. There were significant correlations between both negative interpretations of ambiguous words and scenarios and depression symptoms after controlling for anxiety symptoms (r = .13 and .31, respectively), but no significant correlations with anxiety independent of depression. Genetic effects ranged from 16% for depression to 30% for ambiguous word interpretations. Non-shared environmental influences were large (68-70%). Both genetic and environmental influences contributed to the association between depression and ambiguous scenario interpretations. These findings support psychological theories, which emphasise the role of environmental stress both on the development of threat interpretations and on their links with symptoms. The data also support a role for genetic influence on threat interpretations, which may mediate responses to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalia C Eley
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, De'Crespigny Park, P.O. Box P080, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
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Larsson H, Viding E, Rijsdijk FV, Plomin R. Relationships between parental negativity and childhood antisocial behavior over time: a bidirectional effects model in a longitudinal genetically informative design. J Abnorm Child Psychol 2007; 36:633-45. [PMID: 17602294 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-007-9151-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2007] [Accepted: 06/01/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the direction and etiology underlying the relationships between parental negativity and early childhood antisocial behavior using a bidirectional effects model in a longitudinal genetically informative design. We analyzed parent reports of parental negativity and early childhood antisocial behavior in 6,230 pairs of twins at 4 and 7 years of age. Results from a cross-lagged twin model contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the bidirectional processes involved in parental negativity and childhood antisocial behavior. Specifically, the findings of this study suggest that the association between parenting and child antisocial behavior is best explained by both parent-driven and child-driven effects. We found support for the notion that parent's negative feelings towards their children environmentally mediate the risk for child antisocial behavior. We also found evidence of genetically mediated child effects; in which genetically influenced antisocial behavior evoke parental negativity towards the child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Larsson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, P.O. Box 281, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Larsson H, Tuvblad C, Rijsdijk FV, Andershed H, Grann M, Lichtenstein P. A common genetic factor explains the association between psychopathic personality and antisocial behavior. Psychol Med 2007; 37:15-26. [PMID: 17049102 DOI: 10.1017/s003329170600907x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both psychopathic personality traits and antisocial behavior are influenced by genetic as well as environmental factors. However, little is known about how genetic and environmental factors contribute to the associations between the psychopathic personality traits and antisocial behavior. METHOD Data were drawn from a longitudinal population-based twin sample including all 1480 twin pairs born in Sweden between May 1985 and December 1986. The twins responded to mailed self-report questionnaires at two occasions: 1999 (twins 13-14 years old), and 2002 (twins 16-17 years old). RESULTS A common genetic factor loaded substantially on both psychopathic personality traits and antisocial behavior, whereas a common shared environmental factor loaded exclusively on antisocial behavior. CONCLUSIONS The genetic overlap between psychopathic personality traits and antisocial behavior may reflect a genetic vulnerability to externalizing psychopathology. The finding of shared environmental influences only in antisocial behavior suggests an etiological distinction between psychopathic personality dimensions and antisocial behavior. Knowledge about temperamental correlates to antisocial behavior is important for identification of susceptibility genes, as well as for possible prevention through identification of at-risk children early in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Larsson
- Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
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Campbell DD, Rijsdijk FV, Sham PC. Computation of individual latent variable scores from data with multiple missingness patterns. Behav Genet 2006; 37:408-22. [PMID: 17120140 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-006-9123-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2005] [Accepted: 10/16/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Latent variable models are used in biological and social sciences to investigate characteristics that are not directly measurable. The generation of individual scores of latent variables can simplify subsequent analyses. However, missing measurements in real data complicate the calculation of scores. Missing observations also result in different latent variable scores having different degrees of accuracy which should be taken into account in subsequent analyses. This manuscript presents a publicly available software tool that addresses both these problems, using as an example a dataset consisting of multiple ratings for ADHD symptomatology in children. The program computes latent variable scores with accompanying accuracy indices, under a 'user-specified' structural equation model, in data with missing data patterns. Since structural equation models encompass factor models, it can also be used for calculating factor scores. The program, documentation and a tutorial, containing worked examples and specimen input and output files, is available at http://statgen.iop.kcl.ac.uk/lsc .
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Affiliation(s)
- D D Campbell
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, Box P080, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
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Abstract
Sibling interactions aim to determine whether siblings' phenotype have an impact on one another. We explore the power to detect sibling interaction term in twin models with the inclusion of singletons (only children). Furthermore, we develop the existing work on the improvement of power from the addition of unrelateds (adoptive or step-siblings). We find that singletons are considerably more powerful under cooperative (positive or imitation) than competitive (negative) interaction. Additionally, the power from URs is attenuated when common environment is part of the genetic model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Neale
- Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King,s College, London, UK.
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Gregory AM, Eley TC, O’Connor TG, Rijsdijk FV, Plomin R. Family influences on the association between sleep problems and anxiety in a large sample of pre-school aged twins. Personality and Individual Differences 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2005.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Rijsdijk FV, van Haren NEM, Picchioni MM, McDonald C, Toulopoulou T, Hulshoff Pol HE, Kahn RS, Murray R, Sham PC. Brain MRI abnormalities in schizophrenia: same genes or same environment? Psychol Med 2005; 35:1399-1409. [PMID: 16164764 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291705005167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural brain volume abnormalities are among the most extensively studied endophenotypes in schizophrenia. Bivariate genetic model fitting (adjusted to account for selection) was used to quantify the genetic relationship between schizophrenia and brain volumes and to estimate the heritability of these volumes. METHOD We demonstrated by simulation that the adjusted genetic model produced unbiased estimates for endophenotype heritability and the genetic and environmental correlations. The model was applied to brain volumes (whole brain, hippocampus, third and lateral ventricles) in a sample of 14 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs concordant for schizophrenia, 10 MZ discordant pairs, 17 MZ control pairs, 22 discordant sibling pairs, three concordant sibling pairs, and 114 healthy control subjects. RESULTS Whole brain showed a substantial heritability (88%) and lateral ventricles substantial common environmental effects (67%). Whole brain showed a significant genetic correlation with schizophrenia, whereas lateral ventricles showed a significant individual specific correlation with schizophrenia. There were significant familial effects for hippocampus and third ventricle, but the analyses could not resolve whether these were genetic or environmental in origin (around 30%each). CONCLUSIONS Using genetic model fitting on twin and sibling data we have demonstrated differential sources of covariation between schizophrenia and brain volumes, genetic in the case of whole brain volume and individual specific environment in the case of lateral ventricles.
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Affiliation(s)
- F V Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.
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Abstract
We present a regression-based method of haplotype association analysis for quantitative and dichotomous traits in samples consisting of unrelated individuals. The method takes account of uncertain phase by initially estimating haplotype frequencies and obtaining the posterior probabilities of all possible haplotype combinations in each individual, then using these as weights in a finite mixture of regression models. Using this method, different combinations of marker loci can be modeled, to find a parsimonious set of marker loci that are most predictive and therefore most likely to be closely associated with the a quantitative trait locus. The method has the additional advantage of being able to use individuals with some missing genotype data, by considering all possible genotypes at the missing markers. We have implemented this method using the SNPHAP and Mx programs and illustrated its use on published data on idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- P C Sham
- Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, P.O. 080, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.
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Arseneault L, Moffitt TE, Caspi A, Taylor A, Rijsdijk FV, Jaffee SR, Ablow JC, Measelle JR. Strong genetic effects on cross-situational antisocial behaviour among 5-year-old children according to mothers, teachers, examiner-observers, and twins' self-reports. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2003; 44:832-48. [PMID: 12959492 DOI: 10.1111/1469-7610.00168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early childhood antisocial behaviour is a strong prognostic indicator for poor adult mental health. Thus, information about its etiology is needed. Genetic etiology is unknown because most research with young children focuses on environmental risk factors, and the few existing studies of young twins used only mothers' reports of behaviour, which may be biased. METHOD We investigated genetic influences on antisocial behaviour in a representative-plus-high-risk sample of 1116 pairs of 5-year-old twins using data from four independent sources: mothers, teachers, examiner-observers previously unacquainted with the children, and the children themselves. RESULTS Children's antisocial behaviour was reliably measured by all four informants; no bias was detected in mothers', teachers', examiners', or children's reports. Variation in antisocial behaviour that was agreed upon by all informants, and thus was pervasive across settings, was influenced by genetic factors (82%) and experiences specific to each child (18%). Variation in antisocial behaviour that was specific to each informant was meaningful variation, as it was also influenced by genetic factors (from 33% for the children's report to 71% for the teachers' report). CONCLUSIONS This study and four others of very young twins show that genetic risks contribute strongly to population variation in antisocial behaviour that emerges in early childhood. In contrast, genetic risk is known to be relatively modest for adolescent antisocial behaviour, suggesting that the early-childhood form has a distinct etiology, particularly if it is pervasive across situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Arseneault
- Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.
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Rijsdijk FV, Snieder H, Ormel J, Sham P, Goldberg DP, Spector TD. Genetic and environmental influences on psychological distress in the population: General Health Questionnaire analyses in UK twins. Psychol Med 2003; 33:793-801. [PMID: 12877394 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291703007451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) is the most popular screening instrument for detecting psychiatric disorders in community samples. Using longitudinal data of a large sample of UK twin pairs, we explored (i) heritabilities of the four scales and the total score; (ii) the genetic stability over time; and (iii) the existence of differential heritable influences at the high (ill) and low (healthy) tail of the distribution. METHOD At baseline we assessed the GHQ in 627 MZ and 1323 DZ female pairs and at a second occasion (3.5 years later) for a small subsample (90 MZ and 270 DZ pairs). Liability threshold models and raw ordinal maximum likelihood were used to estimate twin correlations and to fit longitudinal genetic models. We estimated extreme group heritabilities of the GHQ distribution by using a model-fitting implementation of the DeFries-Fulker regression method for selected twin data. RESULTS Heritabilities for Somatic Symptoms, Anxiety, Social Dysfunction, Depression and total score were 0.37, 0.40, 0.20, 0.42 and 0.44, respectively. The contribution of shared genetic factors to the correlations between time points is substantial for the total score (73%). Group heritabilities of 0.48 and 0.43 were estimated for the top and bottom 10% of the total GHQ score distribution, respectively. CONCLUSION The overall heritability of the GHQ as a measure of psychosocial distress was substantial (44%), with all scales having significant additive genetic influences that persisted across time periods. Extreme group analyses suggest that the genetic control of resilience is as important as the genetic control of vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- F V Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry and Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit. St Thomas' Hospital, London
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Rijsdijk FV, Hewitt JK, Sham PC. Analytic power calculation for QTL linkage analysis of small pedigrees. Eur J Hum Genet 2001; 9:335-40. [PMID: 11378821 DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5200634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2000] [Revised: 01/02/2001] [Accepted: 01/09/2001] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Power calculation for QTL linkage analysis can be performed via simple algebraic formulas for small pedigrees, but requires intensive computation for large pedigrees, in order to evaluate the expectation of the test statistic over all possible inheritance vectors at the test position. In this report, we show that the non-centrality parameter for an arbitrary pedigree can be approximated by the sum of the variances of the correlations between all pairs of relatives, each variance being weighted by a factor that is determined by the mean correlation of the pair. We show that this approximation is sufficiently accurate for practical purposes in small to moderately large pedigrees, and that large sibships are more efficient than other family structures under a range of genetic models.
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Affiliation(s)
- F V Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London SE5 8AF, UK.
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Rijsdijk FV, Sham PC, Sterne A, Purcell S, McGuffin P, Farmer A, Goldberg D, Mann A, Cherny SS, Webster M, Ball D, Eley TC, Plomin R. Life events and depression in a community sample of siblings. Psychol Med 2001; 31:401-410. [PMID: 11305848 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291701003361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The overall aim of the GENESiS project is to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for anxiety/depression, and to examine the interaction between these loci and psychosocial adversity. Here we present life-events data with the aim of clarifying: (i) the aetiology of life events as inferred from sibling correlations; (ii) the relationship between life events and measures of anxiety and depression, as well as neuroticism; and (iii) the interaction between life events and neuroticism on anxiety/depression indices. METHODS We assessed the occurrence of one network and three personal life-event categories and multiple indices of anxiety/depression including General Health Questionnaire, Anhedonic Depression, Anxious Arousal and Neuroticism in a large community-based sample of2150 sib pairs, 410 trios and 81 quads. Liability threshold models and raw ordinal maximum likelihood were used to estimate within-individual and between-sibling correlations of life events. The relationship between life events and indices of emotional states and personality were assessed by multiple linear regression and canonical correlations. RESULTS Life events showed sibling correlations of 0-37 for network events and between 0-10 and 0.19 for personal events. Adverse life events were related to anxiety and depression and, to a less extent, neuroticism. Trait-vulnerability (as indexed by co-sib's neuroticism, anxiety and depression) accounted for 11% and life events for 3% of the variance in emotional states. There were no interaction effects. CONCLUSIONS Life events show moderate familiality and are significantly related to symptoms of anxiety and depression in the community. Appropriate modelling of life events in linkage and association analyses should help to identify QTLs for depression and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- F V Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London
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Abstract
The relationship of speed-of-information-processing (SIP), as derived from reaction times (RTs) on experimental tasks, and intelligence has been extensively studied. SIP is suggested to measure the efficiency with which subjects can perform basic cognitive operations underlying a wide range of intellectual abilities. Observed phenotypic correlations between RT and IQ typically are in the -0.2 to -0.4 range, and the question is addressed to what extent this relationship is determined by genetic or environmental influences. In a group of Dutch twins the heritabilities for RT tasks at age 16 and 18 years were estimated longitudinally and the nature of the RT-IQ relationship was investigated. At age 16 years heritabilities for a simple reaction time (SRT) and choice reaction time (CRT) were 64 and 62% and the average phenotypic correlations between the RTs and IQ, assessed by the Raven standard progressive matrices, was -0.21. At the second test occasion lower heritabilities were observed for the RTs, probably due to modifications in administration procedures. The mean correlations between the RTs and WAIS verbal and per formal subtests were -0.18 and -0.16. Multivariate genetic analyses at both ages showed that the RT-IQ correlations were explained by genetic influences. These results are in agreement with earlier findings (Baker et al., Behav Genet 1991;21:351-67; Ho et al., Behav Genet 1988;18:247-61) and support the existence of a common, heritable biological basis underlying the SIP-IQ relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- F V Rijsdijk
- Department of Psychonomics, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Abstract
Variation in peripheral nerve conduction velocity (PNCV) and intelligence was studied in 18-year-old Dutch twins. It has been suggested that both brain nerve conduction velocity and PNCV are positively correlated with intelligence (Reed, 1984) and that heritable differences in nerve conduction velocity may explain part of the well-established heritability of intelligence. The relationship among IQ, obtained with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, and median nerve PNCV was examined in 159 twin pairs. Genetic analyses showed a heritability of 81% for IQ and 66% for onset PNCV. The small but significant phenotypic correlation between IQ and onset PNCV (.15) was entirely mediated by common genetic factors. Analyses of differences scores for PNCV of this study and PNCV from the same subjects collected at age 16 suggest that there might still be development in PNCV in this age interval. This maturation is highly controlled by genetic factors. It is suggested that variation in IQ that is associated with nerve conduction velocity becomes apparent only after the developmental processes in peripheral nerves are completed. This is in line with the suggestion of increasing heritability of IQ in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- F V Rijsdijk
- Department of Psychonomics, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Abstract
We studied variation in peripheral nerve conduction velocity (PNCV) and intelligence in a group of 16-year-old Dutch twins. It has been suggested that both brain nerve conduction velocity and PNCV are positively correlated with intelligence (Reed, 1984) and that heritable differences in NCV may explain part of the well established heritability of intelligence. The Standard Progressive Matrices test was administered to 210 twin pairs to obtain IQ scores. Median nerve PNCV was determined in a subgroup of 156 pairs. Genetic analyses showed a heritability of 0.65 for Raven IQ score and 0.77 for PNCV. However, there was no significant phenotypic correlation between IQ score and PNCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- F V Rijsdijk
- Department of Psychonomics, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract
In this study 12 depressed outpatients were compared to 12 healthy controls with respect to their performance on a number of cognitive tasks, including a recognition-memory task, and their eye movements and pupil size were recorded while watching a traffic film. The recognition-memory task consisted of words with intermediate hedonic tone (neutral words), words with high hedonic tone ('good' words) and words with low hedonic tone ('bad' words). Patients performed slower on perceptual-motor tasks which could be characterized as effort-demanding, while no difference between groups was found on effortless tasks. In addition, the range of horizontal eye movements, an indication of visual span, was found to be less in patients. Signal-detection analysis on the recognition-memory data showed an impairment of 'pure' memory in depressives. Analyses on response bias indicated that patients had more false alarms, but only with respect to good words. It is concluded that patients exhibit cognitive deficits, including memory impairment, a narrower visual span and a risky response strategy on good words, which may be an indication of the trouble patients have in processing emotionally toned words.
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Affiliation(s)
- J B Deijen
- Department of Psychophysiology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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