Genetic and environmental contributions to common psychopathologies of childhood and adolescence: a study of twins and their siblings.
We report findings based on analyses of self-reports of six common adolescent psychopathologies (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD; conduct disorder, CD; oppositional defiant disorder, ODD; generalized anxiety disorder, GAD; separation anxiety disorder, SAD; and major depressive disorder, MDD) in a sample of 1,162 male and female adolescent (12-19 years) twin pairs and 426 siblings. Prevalence statistics for past year and lifetime reports confirm differences between genders for CD, GAD, SAD, and MDD, and a lack of differences between twins and their non-twin siblings. Biometrical modeling was conducted to ascertain the relative influences of genes, and shared and non-shared environments contributing to these disorders. A more robust estimate of these parameters was obtained by including non-twin siblings. Age-specific thresholds were integrated into the analyses to appropriately model the developmental patterns of behavior. We found evidence for both genetic and non-shared environmental influences for all disorders. Shared environmental influences also seem to be important for MDD and lifetime GAD.
Ehringer
Marissa A
MA
Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado at Boulder, 80309, USA. Marissa.Ehringer@colorado.edu
Rhee
Soo Hyun
SH
Young
Susan
S
Corley
Robin
R
Hewitt
John K
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001699:Biometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent / Q000379:methods; D002666:Psychology, Child / Q000379:methods; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012737:Sex Factors; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment