Jennifer Y F Lau1, Thalia C Eley. 1. Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK. lauj@mail.nih.gov
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Genetic risks for depression may be expressed through greater exposure towards environmental stressors (gene-environment correlation, rGE) and increased susceptibility to these stressors (gene-environment interaction, G x E). While these effects are often studied independently, evidence supports their co-occurrence on depression. METHODS: Adolescent twin and sibling data was used to assess correlations and interactions between genetic risks for depressive symptoms and two putative environmental stressors: dependent negative life events and maternal punitive discipline. RESULTS: Moderate genetic effects influenced each environmental risk factor, consistent with rGE. Genetic effects on environmental risks also contributed to depressive outcomes, implying genetic correlations between measures. Genetic effects on depressive symptoms changed across levels of negative life events and maternal punitive discipline, consistent with G x E. Finally, G x E co-occurred with rGE on depressive outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents at genetic risk for depressive phenotypes may be exposed to increased social adversity (rGE) and more susceptible to developing symptoms in response to these risks (G x E).
BACKGROUND: Genetic risks for depression may be expressed through greater exposure towards environmental stressors (gene-environment correlation, rGE) and increased susceptibility to these stressors (gene-environment interaction, G x E). While these effects are often studied independently, evidence supports their co-occurrence on depression. METHODS: Adolescent twin and sibling data was used to assess correlations and interactions between genetic risks for depressive symptoms and two putative environmental stressors: dependent negative life events and maternal punitive discipline. RESULTS: Moderate genetic effects influenced each environmental risk factor, consistent with rGE. Genetic effects on environmental risks also contributed to depressive outcomes, implying genetic correlations between measures. Genetic effects on depressive symptoms changed across levels of negative life events and maternal punitive discipline, consistent with G x E. Finally, G x E co-occurred with rGE on depressive outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents at genetic risk for depressive phenotypes may be exposed to increased social adversity (rGE) and more susceptible to developing symptoms in response to these risks (G x E).
Authors: Jurgita Narusyte; Jenae M Neiderhiser; Anna-Karin Andershed; Brian M D'Onofrio; David Reiss; Erica Spotts; Jody Ganiban; Paul Lichtenstein Journal: J Abnorm Psychol Date: 2011-05
Authors: Jurgita Narusyte; Jenae M Neiderhiser; Brian M D'Onofrio; David Reiss; Erica L Spotts; Jody Ganiban; Paul Lichtenstein Journal: Dev Psychol Date: 2008-11
Authors: Katariina Salmela-Aro; Sanna Read; Eero Vuoksimaa; Tellervo Korhonen; Danielle M Dick; Jaakko Kaprio; Richard J Rose Journal: Twin Res Hum Genet Date: 2014-06-16 Impact factor: 1.587
Authors: Harriet A Ball; Sisira H Siribaddana; Athula Sumathipala; Yulia Kovas; Nick Glozier; Peter McGuffin; Matthew Hotopf Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2010-02-02 Impact factor: 3.630