BACKGROUND: The contribution of genetic factors to obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms has not been examined using a large population-based sample of adults. Furthermore, the extent to which there are qualitative and quantitative differences in genetic architecture between men and women with OC symptoms has not been elucidated. METHOD: We obtained the Young Adult Self Report Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YASR-OCS) from a group of 5893 monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins, and 1304 additional siblings from the population-based Netherlands Twin Register. Structural equation modelling was used to decompose the variation in OC behaviour into genetic and environmental components and analyse quantitative and qualitative sex differences. RESULTS: Familial resemblance was the same for DZ twins and non-twin siblings, which means that there was no evidence for a special twin environment. The same genetic risk factors for OC behaviour were expressed in men and women. Depending on the choice of fit index, we found small (39% for men and 50% for women) or no sex differences (47% for both men and women) in heritability. The remaining variance in liability was due to individual-specific environment. CONCLUSIONS: OC behaviour showed a moderate heritability. At most, small quantitative sex differences were found in the genetic architecture of OC behaviour, and no qualitative sex differences.
BACKGROUND: The contribution of genetic factors to obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms has not been examined using a large population-based sample of adults. Furthermore, the extent to which there are qualitative and quantitative differences in genetic architecture between men and women with OC symptoms has not been elucidated. METHOD: We obtained the Young Adult Self Report Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YASR-OCS) from a group of 5893 monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins, and 1304 additional siblings from the population-based Netherlands Twin Register. Structural equation modelling was used to decompose the variation in OC behaviour into genetic and environmental components and analyse quantitative and qualitative sex differences. RESULTS: Familial resemblance was the same for DZ twins and non-twin siblings, which means that there was no evidence for a special twin environment. The same genetic risk factors for OC behaviour were expressed in men and women. Depending on the choice of fit index, we found small (39% for men and 50% for women) or no sex differences (47% for both men and women) in heritability. The remaining variance in liability was due to individual-specific environment. CONCLUSIONS: OC behaviour showed a moderate heritability. At most, small quantitative sex differences were found in the genetic architecture of OC behaviour, and no qualitative sex differences.
Authors: Josien Schuurmans; Anton J L M van Balkom; Harold J G M van Megen; Johannes H Smit; Merijn Eikelenboom; Danielle C Cath; Maarten Kaarsemaker; Desiree Oosterbaan; Gert-Jan Hendriks; Koen R J Schruers; Nic J A van der Wee; Gerrit Glas; Patricia van Oppen Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2012-11-12 Impact factor: 4.035
Authors: Raven L Astrom; Sally J Wadsworth; Richard K Olson; Erik G Willcutt; John C DeFries Journal: Behav Genet Date: 2011-01-23 Impact factor: 2.805
Authors: Mieke Klein Hofmeijer-Sevink; Neeltje M Batelaan; Harold J G M van Megen; Marcel A van den Hout; Brenda W Penninx; Anton J L M van Balkom; Danielle C Cath Journal: Can J Psychiatry Date: 2017-05-16 Impact factor: 4.356
Authors: Dawn Alyssia Laney; Daniel J Gruskin; Paul M Fernhoff; Joseph F Cubells; Opal Y Ousley; Heather Hipp; Ami J Mehta Journal: J Inherit Metab Dis Date: 2010-01-20 Impact factor: 4.982
Authors: Anouk den Braber; Dennis van 't Ent; Danielle C Cath; Judith Wagner; Dorret I Boomsma; Eco J C de Geus Journal: Brain Date: 2010-09-07 Impact factor: 13.501