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Dimensional representations of DSM-IV cluster B personality disorders in a population-based sample of Norwegian twins: a multivariate study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 February 2008

S. Torgersen ,
N. Czajkowski ,
K. Jacobson ,
T. Reichborn-Kjennerud ,
E. Røysamb ,
M. C. Neale  and
K. S. Kendler
S. Torgersen*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern and Southern Norway and Nic Waal's Institute, Norway
N. Czajkowski
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
K. Jacobson
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, IL, USA
T. Reichborn-Kjennerud
Affiliation:
Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway Institute of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Norway Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
E. Røysamb
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
M. C. Neale
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry and Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
K. S. Kendler
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry and Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr S. Torgersen, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, PostBox 1094, Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

The personality disorders (PDs) in the ‘dramatic’ cluster B [antisocial (ASPD), histrionic (HPD), narcissistic (NPD) and borderline (BPD)] demonstrate co-morbidity. However, the degree to which genetic and/or environmental factors influence their co-occurrence is not known and, with the exception of ASPD, the relative impact of genetic and environmental risk factors on liability to the cluster B PDs has not been conclusively established.

Method

PD traits were assessed in 1386 Norwegian twin pairs between the age of 19 and 35 years using the Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders (SIDP-IV). Using the statistical package Mx, multivariate twin models were fitted to dimensional representations of the PDs.

Results

The best-fitting model, which did not include sex or shared family environment effects, included common genetic and environmental factors influencing all four dramatic PD traits, and factors influencing only ASPD and BPD. Heritability was estimated at 38% for ASPD traits, 31% for HPD traits, 24% for NPD traits and 35% for BPD traits. BPD traits had the lowest and ASPD traits the highest disorder-specific genetic variance.

Conclusion

The frequently observed co-morbidity between cluster B PDs results from both common genetic and environmental influences. Etiologically, cluster B has a ‘substructure’ in which ASPD and BPD are more closely related to each other than to the other cluster B disorders.

Keywords

Antisocialborderlinegenetichistrionicnarcissistic
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 38 , Issue 11 , November 2008 , pp. 1617 - 1625
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

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