Genetic and environmental contributions to common psychopathologies of childhood and adolescence: a study of twins and their siblings

Author: Ehringer, M.A.; Rhee, S.H.; Young, S.; Corley, R.; Hewitt, J.K.

Description: We report findings based on analyses of self-reports of six common adolescent psychopathologies (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD; conduct disorder, CD; oppositional defiant disorder, ODD; generalized anxiety disorder, GAD; separation anxiety disorder, SAD; and major depressive disorder, MDD) in a sample of 1,162 male and female adolescent (12-19 years) twin pairs and 426 siblings. Prevalence statistics for past year and lifetime reports confirm differences between genders for CD, GAD, SAD, and MDD, and a lack of differences between twins and their non-twin siblings. Biometrical modeling was conducted to ascertain the relative influences of genes, and shared and non-shared environments contributing to these disorders. A more robust estimate of these parameters was obtained by including non-twin siblings. Age-specific thresholds were integrated into the analyses to appropriately model the developmental patterns of behavior. We found evidence for both genetic and non-shared environmental influences for all disorders. Shared environmental influences also seem to be important for MDD and lifetime GAD.

Subject headings: Adolescent; Adolescent Psychology/methods; Adult; Biometry/methods; Child; Child Psychology/methods; Colorado/epidemiology; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/psychology; Humans; Internal-External Control; Male; Mental Disorders/epidemiology/genetics/psychology; Prevalence; Self Disclosure; Sex Factors; Siblings/psychology; Social Environment

Publication year: 2006

Journal or book title: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology

Volume: 34

Issue: 1

Pages: 1-17

Find the full text : http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10802-005-9000-0

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Type: Journal article

Serial number: 98