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

J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2006 Feb;34(1):1-17. doi: 10.1007/s10802-005-9000-0. Epub 2006 Feb 8.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

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