title: Trauma Exposure and Axis I Psychopathology: A Co-twin Control Analysis in Norwegian Young Adults.
abstract: Broad associations between trauma exposure (TE) and Axis I psychopathology have been noted in the literature. However, it is not clear if TE is directly associated with Axis I disorders or if the relationship is better accounted for by familial factors (i.e., early environment and/or genetic factors). The current investigation used the co-twin control method in a large sample of adult twin pairs from the Norwegian Twin Registry (N= 2,776), including 449 twin pairs discordant for DSM-IV Criterion A TE. History of TE and Axis I psychopathology was assessed using DSM-IV based clinical interview. Results suggested that TE was significantly associated with greater likelihood of meeting criteria for major depression, dysthymia, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and somatization disorder in the general population (odds ratios [OR] ranging from 1.33 to 2.21). Among twins discordant for TE, results suggested that TE may exert a direct influence on major depression, dysthymia, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and somatization disorder. Shared familial effects may also account for at least some of the relationship between TE and major depression. TE may play an important role in the development of a wide range of Axis I psychopathology above and beyond familial factors. Research and clinical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Ruth C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Erin C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Berenz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Steven H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Aggen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Charles O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Drs. Knudsen and Reichborn-Kjennerud), the Institute of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Norway (Dr. Reichborn-Kjennerud).
authors.forename: Gun Peggy
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.affiliation: Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Drs. Knudsen and Reichborn-Kjennerud), the Institute of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Norway (Dr. Reichborn-Kjennerud).
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reichborn-Kjennerud
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA ; Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kendler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Ananda B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Amstadter
keywords: co-twin control design; lifetime trauma exposure; psychiatric genetics; psychopathology