Childhood adversity, monoamine oxidase a genotype, and risk for conduct disorder.
BACKGROUND
Very little is known about how different sets of risk factors interact to influence risk for psychiatric disorder.


OBJECTIVE
To replicate a recent report of a genotype-environment interaction that predicts risk for antisocial behavior in boys.


METHODS
Characterizing risk for conduct disorder in boys in association with monoamine oxidase A genotype and exposure to familial adversity, defined by interparental violence, parental neglect, and inconsistent discipline.


METHODS
A community-based sample of twin boys.


METHODS
Five hundred fourteen male twins aged 8 to 17 years.


METHODS
Conduct disorder.


RESULTS
There was a main effect of adversity but not of monoamine oxidase A on risk for conduct disorder. Low monoamine oxidase A activity increased risk for conduct disorder only in the presence of an adverse childhood environment. Neither a passive nor an evocative genotype-environment correlation accounted for the interaction.


CONCLUSIONS
This study replicates a recent report of a genotype-environment interaction that predicts individual variation in risk for antisocial behavior in boys.
Foley
Debra L
DL
Department of Human Genetics, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virgoinia Commonwaelth University, Richmond, 23298-0003, USA. dfoley@hsc.vcu.edu
Eaves
Lindon J
LJ
Wormley
Brandon
B
Silberg
Judy L
JL
Maes
Hermine H
HH
Kuhn
Jonathan
J
Riley
Brien
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology
D008995:Monoamine Oxidase