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A developmental twin study of symptoms of anxiety and depression: evidence for genetic innovation and attenuation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 June 2008

K. S. Kendler*
Affiliation:
Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
C. O. Gardner
Affiliation:
Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
P. Lichtenstein
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
*
*Address for correspondence: K. S. Kendler, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA. (Email: kendler@vcu.edu)
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Abstract

Background

Little is known about the pattern of genetic and environmental influences on symptoms of anxiety and depression (SxAnxDep) from childhood to early adulthood.

Method

Parental- and self-reported levels of SxAnxDep were assessed at ages 8–9, 13–14, 16–17 and 19–20 years in 2508 twins from the Swedish Twin Study of Child and Adolescent Development (TCHAD). Analysis conducted using the Mx program included SxAnxDep by parental and self-report.

Results

The best-fit model revealed one genetic risk factor for SxAnxDep acting at ages 8–9, 13–14, 16–17 and 19–20, and new sets of genetic risk factors ‘coming on line’ in early adolescence, late adolescence and early adulthood. Together, these genetic factors were very strong influences on the levels of SxAnxDep reported in common by parents and twins with heritability estimates, correcting for rater- and time-specific effects, ranging from 72% to 89%. The first genetic factor, which accounted for 72% of the variance in SxAnxDep at ages 8–9, attenuated sharply in influence, accounting for only 12% of the variance by ages 19–20. No evidence was found for shared environmental influences. Although not statistically significant, the correlation between genetic risk factors for SxAnxDep in males and females declined with advancing age.

Conclusions

Genetic effects on SxAnxDep are developmentally dynamic from middle childhood to young adulthood, demonstrating both genetic innovation and genetic attenuation. The attenuation might explain the low levels of continuity observed for anxiety and depressive disorders from childhood to adulthood. Differences in genetic risk factors for SxAnxDep in males and females may increase during development.

Information

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press
Figure 0

Fig. 1. The model used in these analyses presented for one source of liability such as additive genetic effects. The model contains four latent scores for symptoms of anxiety and depression (SxAnxDep) (T1–T4) reflecting the true level of SxAnxDep at time 1 (age 8–9), time 2 (age 13–14), time 3 (age 16–17) and time 4 (age 19–20). These latent variables are indexed by ratings of SxAnxDep by parental report (P) (available for times 1–3) and by self-report (S) (available for times 2–4). The degree to which the parent- and self-reported ratings of SxAnxDep index the true latent level of symptoms is reflected by the paths λP and λS. The genetic and environmental influences on the latent SxAnxDep scores are modeled as a Cholesky decomposition. See text article for further details.

Figure 1

Table 1. Correlations for symptoms of anxiety and depression as a function of age and reporter (self versus parent)

Figure 2

Table 2. Model fitting results: a multi-rater developmental model for symptoms of anxiety and depression

Figure 3

Fig. 2. The proportion of total variance in symptoms of anxiety and depression (SxAnxDep) accounted for by genetic factors through development. The y axis represents the total phenotypic variance so the sum of all the factors equals the total heritability. The first genetic factor, which starts at ages 8–9, is represented in dark grey. An intermediate grey represents the second genetic factor starting at ages 13–14. Light grey represents the third genetic factor starting at ages 16–17 and white represents the fourth genetic factor acting only at ages 19–20.

Figure 4

Table 3. Parameter estimates and 95% confidence intervals for the best-fit model (model X) for symptoms of anxiety and depression (T1 to T4)a

Supplementary material: File

Kendler Supplementary Material

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