Genetics of co-developing conduct and emotional problems during childhood and adolescence

Hannigan, L. J. , Pingault, J.-B., Krapohl, E., McAdams, T. A., Rijsdijk, F. V. and Eley, T. C. (2018) Genetics of co-developing conduct and emotional problems during childhood and adolescence. Nature Human Behaviour, 2(7), pp. 514-521. (doi: 10.1038/s41562-018-0373-9)

[img]
Preview
Text
163517.pdf - Accepted Version

944kB

Abstract

Common genetic influences offer a partial explanation for comorbidity between different psychiatric disorders1,2,3. However, the genetics underlying co-development—the cross-domain co-occurrence of patterns of change over time—of psychiatric symptoms during childhood and adolescence has not been well explored. Here, we show genetic influence on joint symptom trajectories of parent-reported conduct and emotional problems (overall N = 15,082) across development (4–16 years) using both twin- and genome-wide polygenic score analyses (genotyped N = 2,610). Specifically, we found seven joint symptom trajectories, including two characterized by jointly stable and jointly increasing symptoms of conduct and emotional problems, respectively (7.3% of the sample, collectively). Twin modelling analyses revealed substantial genetic influence on trajectories (heritability estimates range of 0.41–0.78). Furthermore, individuals’ risk of being classified in the most symptomatic trajectory classes was significantly predicted by polygenic scores for years-of-education-associated alleles and depressive symptoms-associated alleles. Complementary analyses of child self-reported symptoms across late childhood and early adolescence yielded broadly similar results. Taken together, our results indicate that genetic factors are involved in the co-development of conduct and emotional problems across childhood and adolescence, and that individuals with co-developing symptoms across multiple domains may represent a clinical subgroup characterized by increased levels of genetic risk.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:TEDS is supported by a program grant from the UK Medical Research Council (MR/M021475/1 and previously G0901245), with additional support from the US National Institutes of Health (AG046938) and the European Commission (602768; 295366). LJH is supported by a 1 + 3 Ph.D. studentship from the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). JBP is a fellow of MQ: Transforming Mental Health. EK is supported by the MRC/IoPPN Excellence Award. TAM is supported by a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship, jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (107706/Z/15/Z). This study presents independent research part-funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hannigan, Dr Laurie
Authors: Hannigan, L. J., Pingault, J.-B., Krapohl, E., McAdams, T. A., Rijsdijk, F. V., and Eley, T. C.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
Journal Name:Nature Human Behaviour
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:2397-3374
ISSN (Online):2397-3374
Published Online:02 July 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 Springer Nature Limited
First Published:First published in Nature Human Behaviour 2(7): 514-521
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy
Related URLs:

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record