Genetic Epidemiology, Translational Neurogenomics, Psychiatric Genetics and Statistical Genetics Laboratories investigate the pattern of disease in families, particularly identical and non-identical twins, to assess the relative importance of genes and environment in a variety of important health problems.
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PMID
22051348
TITLE
Genetic co-morbidity between neuroticism, anxiety/depression and somatic distress in a population sample of adolescent and young adult twins.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND NlmCategory: BACKGROUND
Genetic studies in adults indicate that genes influencing the personality trait of neuroticism account for substantial genetic variance in anxiety and depression and in somatic health. Here, we examine for the first time the factors underlying the relationship between neuroticism and anxiety/depressive and somatic symptoms during adolescence.
METHOD NlmCategory: METHODS
The Somatic and Psychological Health Report (SPHERE) assessed symptoms of anxiety/depression (PSYCH-14) and somatic distress (SOMA-10) in 2459 adolescent and young adult twins [1168 complete pairs (35.4% monozygotic, 53% female)] aged 12-25 years (mean=15.5 ± 2.9). Differences between boys and girls across adolescence were explored for neuroticism, SPHERE-34, and the subscales PSYCH-14 and SOMA-10. Trivariate analyses partitioned sources of covariance in neuroticism, PSYCH-14 and SOMA-10.
RESULTS NlmCategory: RESULTS
Girls scored higher than boys on both neuroticism and SPHERE, with SPHERE scores for girls increasing slightly over time, whereas scores for boys decreased or were unchanged. Neuroticism and SPHERE scores were strongly influenced by genetic factors [heritability (h(2)) = 40-52%]. A common genetic source influenced neuroticism, PSYCH-14 and SOMA-10 (impacting PSYCH-14 more than SOMA-10). A further genetic source, independent of neuroticism, accounted for covariation specific to PSYCH-14 and SOMA-10. Environmental influences were largely specific to each measure.
CONCLUSIONS NlmCategory: CONCLUSIONS
In adolescence, genetic risk factors indexed by neuroticism contribute substantially to anxiety/depression and, to a lesser extent, perceived somatic health. Additional genetic covariation between anxiety/depressive and somatic symptoms, independent of neuroticism, had greatest influence on somatic distress, where it was equal in influence to the factor shared with neuroticism.
DATE PUBLISHED
2012 Jun
HISTORY
PUBSTATUS PUBSTATUSDATE
aheadofprint 2011/11/04
entrez 2011/11/05 06:00
pubmed 2011/11/05 06:00
medline 2012/09/08 06:00
AUTHORS
NAME COLLECTIVENAME LASTNAME FORENAME INITIALS AFFILIATION AFFILIATIONINFO
Hansell NK Hansell N K NK Genetic Epidemiology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia.
Wright MJ Wright M J MJ
Medland SE Medland S E SE
Davenport TA Davenport T A TA
Wray NR Wray N R NR
Martin NG Martin N G NG
Hickie IB Hickie I B IB
INVESTIGATORS
JOURNAL
VOLUME: 42
ISSUE: 6
TITLE: Psychological medicine
ISOABBREVIATION: Psychol Med
YEAR: 2012
MONTH: Jun
DAY:
MEDLINEDATE:
SEASON:
CITEDMEDIUM: Internet
ISSN: 1469-8978
ISSNTYPE: Electronic
MEDLINE JOURNAL
MEDLINETA: Psychol Med
COUNTRY: England
ISSNLINKING: 0033-2917
NLMUNIQUEID: 1254142
PUBLICATION TYPE
PUBLICATIONTYPE TEXT
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Twin Study
COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS
GRANTS
GENERAL NOTE
KEYWORDS
MESH HEADINGS
DESCRIPTORNAME QUALIFIERNAME
Adolescent
Adult
Age of Onset
Anxiety Disorders genetics
Child genetics
Comorbidity genetics
Depressive Disorder genetics
Diseases in Twins genetics
Female genetics
Genetic Predisposition to Disease genetics
Genetic Variation genetics
Humans genetics
Male genetics
Models, Genetic genetics
Neurotic Disorders genetics
Personality Assessment genetics
Self Report genetics
Sex Distribution genetics
Social Environment genetics
Somatoform Disorders genetics
Twins statistics & numerical data
Young Adult statistics & numerical data
SUPPLEMENTARY MESH
GENE SYMBOLS
CHEMICALS
OTHER ID's