title: Etiologic connections among substance dependence, antisocial behavior, and personality: modeling the externalizing spectrum.
abstract: A hierarchical biometric model is presented of the origins of comorbidity among substance dependence, antisocial behavior, and a disinhibited personality style. The model posits a spectrum of personality and psychopathology, united by an externalizing factor linked to each phenotype within the spectrum, as well as specific factors that account for distinctions among phenotypes within the spectrum. This model fit self-report and mother-report data from 1,048 male and female 17-year-old twins. The variance of the externalizing factor was mostly genetic, but both genetic and environmental factors accounted for distinctions among phenotypes within the spectrum. These results reconcile evidence for general and specific causal factors within the externalizing spectrum and offer the externalizing factor as a novel target for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455-0344, USA. krueg038@umn.edu
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGue
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012650:Self Disclosure; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology