A twin study of smoking, nicotine dependence, and major depression in men.
This study examined the nature of the relationship among lifetime major depression, smoking, and nicotine dependence. Subjects were 8,169 male twins from the Vietnam Era Twin Registry. Biometrical modeling demonstrated a genetic influence on daily smoking, nicotine dependence, and major depression, and a family environmental influence on daily smoking. Genetic factors influencing nicotine dependence also strongly influenced major depression. We also compared probands with a history of major depression (n = 398) from pairs discordant for major depression, their nondepressed cotwins (n = 364), and controls (n = 1,863) on a number of secondary smoking outcomes. Major depression was associated with current daily smoking and certain nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Individuals with a familial vulnerability for major depression, even without a personal history of major depression, were more likely to smoke despite a serious illness and to report nervousness, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and depressed mood during past quit attempts. Among the 237 monozygotic pairs discordant for major depression, depressed probands were more likely to have a lifetime history of nicotine dependence than were cotwins. Findings extend Kendler and colleague's (1993) study of female twins by demonstrating in men that shared genetic factors predispose not only to major depression and daily smoking but also to major depression and nicotine dependence.
Lyons
Michael
M
Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA. mlyons@bu.edu
Hitsman
Brian
B
Xian
Hong
H
Panizzon
Matthew S
MS
Jerskey
Beth A
BA
Santangelo
Susan
S
Grant
Michael D
MD
Rende
Richard
R
Eisen
Seth
S
Eaves
Lindon
L
Tsuang
Ming T
MT
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012931:Social Environment; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology