Heritability of dental fear.
The objective was to test a hypothesized genetic component (i.e., monozygotic being more similar compared with dizygotic twins) in dental fear/anxiety by comparing the probandwise concordance. We analyzed data based on a dichotomous measure of Dental Fear/Anxiety and a continuous measure of Dental Fear Intensity from over 2000 twins, collected when participants were 13-14 years old and once again three years later. The hypothesis was confirmed, but heritability of Dental Fear/Anxiety was estimated to be higher for girls (0.77 at time 1 and 0.55 at time 2) than for boys (0.14 and 0.0 at times 1 and 2, respectively). Heritability of Dental Fear Intensity, however, was similar for girls (0.30 and 0.40 at times 1 and 2, respectively) and boys (0.47, 0.44). Studies of the etiology of dental fear/anxiety should take genetic vulnerability into account and include molecular biology measures. Possible heritability differences between girls and boys need attention.
Ray
J
J
Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 500, SE405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden. Jeremy.Ray@psy.gu.se
Boman
U Wide
UW
Bodin
L
L
Berggren
U
U
Lichtenstein
P
P
Broberg
A G
AG
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000235:genetics*; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics*; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics*