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3 results

  • Alcohol consumption in men is influenced by qualitatively different genetic factors in adolescence and adulthood

  • A. C. Edwards, K. S. Kendler
  • Journal:
    Psychological Medicine / Volume 43 / Issue 9 / September 2013
    Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    02 January 2013, pp. 1857-1868
  • Background

    Alcohol consumption is influenced by genetic factors. Previous studies have examined the heritability of alcohol consumption, or related phenotypes, from adolescence into adulthood, frequently finding that total heritability changes over time. However, it remains unclear whether the same genes underlie liability to alcohol consumption across development versus whether novel risk genes become important over time.

    Method

    A population-based study of adult male twins (n=1790) born in Virginia, USA, retrospectively reported on their average monthly alcohol consumption from early adolescence through adulthood. We used twin modeling methods to explore genetic and environmental influences on alcohol consumption over time.

    Results

    One latent genetic factor accounted for the majority of the heritability in alcohol consumption during mid- to late adolescence, but its influence declined thereafter; from young adulthood forward, heritability was largely attributable to a second genetic factor. The total heritability of alcohol consumption increased from 0 at ages 12–14 years to 0.40 by ages 18–21 years. Shared environmental factors declined in influence over time.

    Conclusions

    The heritability of alcohol consumption over time is dynamic both quantitatively and qualitatively. These results have important implications for gene identification endeavors. Furthermore, these findings could inform efforts to elucidate developmentally dynamic behaviors, such as antisocial behavior.

  • Chapter 19 - The genetics of schizophrenia

  • Edited by John I. Nurnberger, Jr, Wade Berrettini, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
  • Book:
    Principles of Psychiatric Genetics
    Published online:
    05 October 2012
    Print publication:
    13 September 2012, pp 230-261

  • Summary

    This chapter reviews the evidence for genetic and environmental influences, both specified and unspecified in antisocial behavior. It discusses heritability of both adult and child mental disorders in DSM-IV-TR, for which antisocial behavior is central to their diagnosis. The chapter also reviews heritability of the related externalizing disorders. It highlights some of the most exciting new directions in this field, which aim to unpack the genetic and environmental black boxes in antisocial behavior, and provides the complexities of the gene-environment interplay in antisocial development. Evidence of genetic influences on antisocial behavior does not implicate that individuals exhibiting antisocial behavior are immune or resistant to interventions. Future research with combined approaches from behavior genetics and neuroscience will lead to better understanding of specific genes that result in structural and functional brain impairments that in turn give rise to antisocial, violent, and psychopathic behavior.

  • Chapter 7 - Functional validation of candidate genetic susceptibility factors for major mental illnesses

  • Edited by John I. Nurnberger, Jr, Wade Berrettini, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
  • Book:
    Principles of Psychiatric Genetics
    Published online:
    05 October 2012
    Print publication:
    13 September 2012, pp 69-78

  • Summary

    Genetic epidemiology focuses on how genetic factors and their interactions with other risk factors increase vulnerability to, or protection against, disease. The investigations in genetic epidemiology are typically based on a combination of study designs including family, twin, and adoption studies. Migrant studies are perhaps the most powerful study design to identify environmental and cultural risk factors. This chapter presents a summary of relative risks derived from controlled family studies of selected psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders and mood disorders. Two factors which contribute to the complexity of the patterns of inheritance of psychiatric disorders are lack of validity of classification of psychiatric disorders and complexity of the pathways from genotypes to psychiatric phenotypes. The chapter reviews the role of the tools of epidemiology in ongoing and future studies designed to identify genes underlying mental disorders.