Genetic and environmental factors in adoptee antisocial personality.
In a sample of 286 adult male adoptees 44 met criteria for antisocial personality (ASP). Two types of biologic parent background were associated with increased incidence of ASP in offspring: those with alcohol problem and those with a criminal conviction or adjudged delinquency. ASP adoptees were also significantly more likely to be alcoholic. Log linear modeling showed that alcohol problems in a biologic parent predicted increased alcohol abuse in the adoptee and that criminality/delinquency in a biologic parent predicted adult adoptee ASP. In the log-linear model two environmental factors significantly increased adoptee ASP: (1) placement in an adoptive home where there was an alcohol problem or antisocial behavior; and (2) placement in a lower socioeconomic home when the adoptee came from a background of criminality/delinquency in a biologic parent. When the adoptee did not have this biologic background socioeconomic level appeared to have little effect on ASP incidence. The results suggest the importance of genetic-environmental interaction in the genesis of adult ASP disorder.
Cadoret
R J
RJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242.
Troughton
E
E
Bagford
J
J
Woodworth
G
G
D000300:Adoption / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D010556:Personality Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment