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The genetic relationship between neuroticism and autonomic function in female twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2006

HARRIËTTE RIESE ,
JUDITH G. M. ROSMALEN ,
JOHAN ORMEL ,
ARIE M. VAN ROON ,
ALBERTINE J. OLDEHINKEL  and
FRÜHLING V. RIJSDIJK
HARRIËTTE RIESE
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
JUDITH G. M. ROSMALEN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
JOHAN ORMEL
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
ARIE M. VAN ROON
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
ALBERTINE J. OLDEHINKEL
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
FRÜHLING V. RIJSDIJK
Affiliation:
Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London, UK
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Abstract

Background. Neuroticism is widely used as an explanatory concept in etiological research of psychopathology. In order to clarify what neuroticism actually represents, we investigated the genetic association between neuroticism and cardiovascular measures.

Method. In 125 female twin pairs (18–30 years), electrocardiogram and continuous finger blood pressure were assessed during two rest and two mental stress conditions. Mean values for baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), heart rate variability (HRV) and inter-beat interval (IBI) were calculated for each condition. Neuroticism was assessed by multiple questionnaires. Multivariate genetic model-fitting analyses were used to investigate the genetic correlation between latent neuroticism and the cardiovascular autonomic nervous system (ANS) measures.

Results. Neuroticism was negatively correlated to BRS and HRV. Neuroticism was not correlated to IBI. For BRS, this phenotypical relation was entirely determined by shared genetic influences. For HRV, the genetic contribution to the phenotypical correlation was not significant, but the proportions of explained covariance showed a trend of more genetic than environmental influences on the phenotypical relationship.

Conclusions. High neuroticism is associated with a deregulated ANS. Pleiotropic genetic effects may be partly responsible for this effect.

Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 37 , Issue 2 , February 2007 , pp. 257 - 267
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press

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