title: Shared genetic factors influence risk for bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorders.
abstract: Bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder (AUD) have a high rate of comorbidity, more than 50% of individuals with bipolar disorder also receive a diagnosis of AUD in their lifetimes. Although both disorders are heritable, it is unclear if the same genetic factors mediate risk for bipolar disorder and AUD. We examined 733 Costa Rican individuals from 61 bipolar pedigrees. Based on a best estimate process, 32% of the sample met criteria for bipolar disorder, 17% had a lifetime AUD diagnosis, 32% met criteria for lifetime nicotine dependence, and 21% had an anxiety disorder. AUD, nicotine dependence and anxiety disorders were relatively more common among individuals with bipolar disorder than in their non-bipolar relatives. All illnesses were shown to be heritable and bipolar disorder was genetically correlated with AUD, nicotine dependence and anxiety disorders. The genetic correlation between bipolar and AUD remained when controlling for anxiety, suggesting that unique genetic factors influence the risk for comorbid bipolar and AUD independent of anxiety. Our findings provide evidence for shared genetic effects on bipolar disorder and AUD risk. Demonstrating that common genetic factors influence these independent diagnostic constructs could help to refine our diagnostic nosology.
authors: Centro de Investigación en Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Carmiol
authors: Centro de Investigación en Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Peralta
authors: Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Almasy
authors: Centro de Investigación en Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Contreras
authors: Centro de Investigación en Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Pacheco
authors: Center of Excellence for Neurosciences, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Escamilla
authors: Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: E E M
authors: EE
authors: Knowles
authors: Centro de Investigación en Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Raventós
authors: Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Electronic address: david.glahn@yale.edu.
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: Glahn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol use disorder; Bipolar disorder; Central Valley of Costa Rica; Family studies; Genetic correlation; Heritability