Back to Search
Start Over
Genetic co-morbidity between neuroticism, anxiety/depression and somatic distress in a population sample of adolescent and young adult twins
- Source :
- Psychological medicine. 42(6)
- Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- BackgroundGenetic 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.MethodThe 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.ResultsGirls 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 (h2)=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.ConclusionsIn 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.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
Neurotic Disorders
media_common.quotation_subject
Twins
Comorbidity
Personality Assessment
Social Environment
Young Adult
mental disorders
medicine
Diseases in Twins
Personality
Humans
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Young adult
Age of Onset
Sex Distribution
Psychiatry
Child
Somatoform Disorders
Applied Psychology
Depression (differential diagnoses)
media_common
Depressive Disorder
Models, Genetic
Genetic Variation
Heritability
Neuroticism
Anxiety Disorders
Psychiatry and Mental health
Distress
Trait
Anxiety
Female
Self Report
medicine.symptom
Psychology
Clinical psychology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14698978 and 00332917
- Volume :
- 42
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Psychological medicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....ee98063366211d450500d6d14066d8c7