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The structure of genetic and environmental influences on normative personality, abnormal personality traits, and personality disorder symptoms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2019

Kenneth S. Kendler Open the ORCID record for Kenneth S. Kendler [Opens in a new window] ,
Steven H. Aggen ,
Nathan Gillespie ,
Robert F. Krueger ,
Nikolai Czajkowski ,
Eivind Ystrom  and
T. Reichborn-Kjennerud
Kenneth S. Kendler*
Affiliation:
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Richmond, VA, USA Departments of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
Steven H. Aggen
Affiliation:
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Richmond, VA, USA Departments of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
Nathan Gillespie
Affiliation:
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Richmond, VA, USA Departments of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
Robert F. Krueger
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Nikolai Czajkowski
Affiliation:
Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, OsloNorway Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, OsloNorway
Eivind Ystrom
Affiliation:
Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, OsloNorway Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, OsloNorway
T. Reichborn-Kjennerud
Affiliation:
Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, OsloNorway Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, OsloNorway
*
Author for correspondence: Kenneth S. Kendler, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

Can the structure of genetic and environmental influences on normative personality traits (NPTs), abnormal personality traits (APTs), and DSM-IV criteria for personality disorders (PD) fit a high or low congruence model positing, respectively, close or more limited etiologic continuity?

Method

Exploratory factor analysis was applied to transformed correlation matrices from Cholesky twin decompositions obtained in OpenMx. In 2801 adult twins from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health Twin Panel, NPTs and APTs were assessed by self-report using the Big Five Inventory (BFI) and PID-5-Norwegian Brief Form (PID-5-NBF), respectively. PDs were assessed at interview using the Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality (SIDP-IV).

Results

The best model yielded three genetic and three unique environmental factors. Genetic factors were dominated, respectively, by (i) high loadings on nearly all PDs and NPT/APT neuroticism and compulsivity, (ii) negative loadings on NPT agreeableness/conscientiousness and positive loadings on APT/PD measures of antisocial traits, and (iii) negative loadings on NPT extraversion and histrionic PD, and positive loadings on APT detachment and schizoid/avoidant PD. Unique environmental factors were dominated, by (i) high loadings on all PDs, (ii) high loadings on all APT dimensions and NPT neuroticism, and (iii) negative loadings on NPT extraversion and positive loadings on NPT detachment/avoidant PD.

Conclusions

Two genetic and one environmental common factor were consistent with a high congruence model while one genetic and two environmental factors were more supportive of a low congruence model. The relationship between genetic and environmental influences on personality assessed by NPTs, APTs, and PDs is complex and does not fit easily into a low or high congruence model.

Keywords

Genetic modelingpersonalitypersonality disordertwins
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 49 , Issue 8 , June 2019 , pp. 1392 - 1399
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

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