scholarly journals Different heritabilities but shared etiological influences for parent, teacher and self-ratings of ADHD symptoms: an adolescent twin study

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 1973-1984 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Merwood ◽  
C. U. Greven ◽  
T. S. Price ◽  
F. Rijsdijk ◽  
J. Kuntsi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Teacher Ratings ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Post Hoc

BackgroundParent and teacher ratings of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms yield high estimates of heritability whereas self-ratings typically yield lower estimates. To understand why, the present study examined the etiological overlap between parent, teacher and self-ratings of ADHD symptoms in a population-based sample of 11–12-year-old twins.MethodParticipants were from the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS). ADHD symptoms were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) hyperactivity scale completed by parents, teachers and children. Structural equation modeling was used to examine genetic and environmental contributions to phenotypic variance/covariance.ResultsThe broad-sense heritability of ADHD symptoms was 82% for parent ratings, 60% for teacher ratings and 48% for self-ratings. Post-hoc analyses revealed significantly higher heritability for same-teacher than different-teacher ratings of ADHD (76% v. 49%). A common pathway model best explained the relationship between different informant ratings, with common genetic influences accounting for 84% of the covariance between parent, teacher and self-rated ADHD symptoms. The remaining variance was explained by rater-specific genetic and non-shared environmental influences.ConclusionsDespite different heritabilities, there were shared genetic influences for parent, teacher and self-ratings of ADHD symptoms, indicating that different informants rated some of the same aspects of behavior. The low heritability estimated for self-ratings and different-teacher ratings may reflect increased measurement error when different informants rate each twin from a pair, and/or greater non-shared environmental influences. Future studies into the genetic influences on ADHD should incorporate informant data in addition to self-ratings to capture a pervasive, heritable component of ADHD symptomatology.

scholarly journals Development of ADHD symptoms in preschool children: Genetic and environmental contributions

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (04) ◽  
pp. 1299-1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Espen Moen Eilertsen ◽  
Line C. Gjerde ◽  
Kenneth S. Kendler ◽  
Espen Røysamb ◽  
Steven H. Aggen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Mother And Child ◽  
Specific Factors

AbstractWe examined genetic and environmental contributions to the development of symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in preschool children. ADHD symptoms in siblings at 1.5, 3, and 5 years of age were investigated in a population-based sample from the prospective Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. The longitudinal contributions of additive genetic, shared, twin-specific, and unique environmental influences were estimated using biometric structural equation models. Heritability of ADHD symptoms ranged from 54% to 70%. There was evidence of partially new genetic influences at successive ages, with genetic correlations ranging from .58 to .89. Contributions from shared environmental factors and twin-specific factors were minor. The importance of unique environmental effects appeared to increase across ages, and was mostly specific to a given age. There was no evidence suggesting that this pattern differs across males and females. Symptoms of ADHD are highly heritability in young children from as early as 1.5 years of age. Longitudinal stability of ADHD symptoms is mainly attributable to genetic influences, but there is also some evidence for age-specific genetic influences. These findings contribute to our understanding of development of ADHD early in life, and can guide future molecular genetics studies.

Mates and Marriage Matter: Genetic and Environmental Influences on Subjective Wellbeing Across Marital Status

2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ragnhild B. Nes ◽  
Espen Røysamb ◽  
Jennifer R. Harris ◽  
Nikolai Czajkowski ◽  
Kristian Tambs
Keyword(s):  
Marital Status ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Subjective Wellbeing ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Nonshared Environment ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Impact

AbstractSpecific environments and social relationships may alter the impact of genes. Previous studies have shown marriage to moderate heritability for depressive symptoms in females, suggesting that marriage provides protection or compensation against genetic risks. Similar mechanisms may be relevant for subjective wellbeing (SWB), which is considerably influenced by genes and almost universally associated with marital status. Questionnaire data on SWB from a population-based sample of 1250 monozygotic (MZ) and 981 dizygotic (DZ) male and female twin pairs (n= 4462) were analyzed using structural equation modeling by means of Mx to investigate genetic and environmental influences on SWB across marital status. Resemblance for SWB in MZ twins exceeded that of DZ twins, but the magnitude of this difference varied across marital status. Genetic factors explained 51% and 54% of the variance in SWB among unmarried males and females, and 41% and 39% in married or cohabitating respondents. Remaining variance was attributable to the nonshared environment. The genetic influences were partly different (rg= 0.64) across marital status in females, but overlapping in married and single males. Our findings show that marriage moderates the magnitude of genetic influences on SWB in both males and females, with a smaller estimate of genetic influences for those with a marital or equivalent partner. The genetic influences on SWB are thus clearly contingent on the environmental context.

Genetic and environmental influences on adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms: a large Swedish population-based study of twins

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Larsson ◽  
P. Asherson ◽  
Z. Chang ◽  
T. Ljung ◽  
B. Friedrichs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Genetic Factor ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently persists into adulthood. Family and twin studies delineate a disorder with strong genetic influences among children and adolescents based on parent- and teacher-reported data but little is known about the genetic and environmental contribution to DSM-IV ADHD symptoms in adulthood. We therefore aimed to investigate the impact of genetic and environmental influences on the inattentive and hyperactive–impulsive symptoms of ADHD in adults.MethodTwin methods were applied to self-reported assessments of ADHD symptoms from a large population-based Swedish twin study that included data from 15 198 Swedish male and female twins aged 20 to 46 years.ResultsThe broad heritability [i.e. A + D, where A is an additive genetic factor and D (dominance) a non-additive genetic factor] was 37% (A = 11%, D = 26%) for inattention and 38% (A = 18%, D = 20%) for hyperactivity–impulsivity. The results also indicate that 52% of the phenotypic correlation between inattention and hyperactivity–impulsivity (r = 0.43) was explained by genetic influences whereas the remaining part of the covariance was explained by non-shared environmental influences. These results were replicated across age strata.ConclusionsOur findings of moderate broad heritability estimates are consistent with previous literature on self-rated ADHD symptoms in older children, adolescents and adults and retrospective reports of self-rated childhood ADHD by adults but differ from studies of younger children with informant ratings. Future research needs to clarify whether our data indicate a true decrease in the heritability of ADHD in adults compared to children, or whether this relates to the use of self-ratings in contrast to informant data.

scholarly journals Evidence for Shared Genetic Influences on Self-Reported ADHD and Autistic Symptoms in Young Adult Australian Twins

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 579-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela M. Reiersen ◽  
John N. Constantino ◽  
Marisa Grimmer ◽  
Nicholas. G. Martin ◽  
Richard D. Todd
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Autistic Symptoms ◽  
Shared Genetic

AbstractRecent clinic-based and population-based studies have shown evidence of association between ADHD and autistic symptoms in children and adolescents as well as evidence for genetic overlap between these disorders. The objective of the current study was to confirm the association between autistic and ADHD symptoms in a young adult twin sample assessed by self-report, and investigate whether shared genetic and/or environmental factors can explain the association. We performed twin-based structural equation modeling using self-report data from 11 Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) items and 12 DSM-IV ADHD inattentive and impulsive symptom items obtained from 674 young adult Australian twins. Phenotypic correlation between autistic and ADHD symptoms was moderate. The most parsimonious univariate models for SRS and ADHD included additive genetic effects and unique environmental effects, without sex differences. ADHD and autistic traits were both moderately heritable. In a bivariate model, genetic correlation (rg) between SRS and ADHD was 0.72. Our results suggest that in young adults, a substantial proportion of the genetic influences on self-reported autistic and ADHD symptoms may be shared between the two disorders.

scholarly journals Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling of the Structure of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Adults

Assessment ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 107319112090589
Author(s):  
Rapson Gomez ◽  
Vasileios Stavropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Adult Adhd ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Confirmatory Factor

This study examined the structure of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in an adult community sample using first-order confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), and bifactor confirmatory factor analysis and ESEM models, with two group factors (inattention [IA] and hyperactivity/impulsivity [HY/IM]) and two different three group factors (IA, hyperactivity [HY], and impulsivity [IM]; and IA, motoric HY/IM, and verbal HY/IM). A total of 738 adults (males = 374 and females = 364) between 17 and 72 years of age completed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. The results provided most support for the ESEM model with group factors for IA, motoric HY/IM, and verbal HY/IM. The factors in this model were reasonably well defined, had good internal consistency omega reliabilities, and had support for their external validities, thereby making it a suitable model for ratings of the ADHD symptoms presented in the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. The theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

scholarly journals A Life Course Study of Genetic and Environmental Influences on Work Incapacity

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-22
Author(s):  
Karoline B. Seglem ◽  
Fartein A. Torvik ◽  
Espen Røysamb ◽  
Line C. Gjerde ◽  
Per Magnus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Population Based ◽  
National Registry ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Aging Workforce ◽  
Total Proportion ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
High Degree

AbstractWork incapacity is a major public health challenge and an economic burden to both society and individuals. Understanding the underlying causes is becoming ever more relevant as many countries face an aging workforce. We examined stability and change in genetic and environmental factors influencing work incapacity from age 18 until retirement, and sex differences in these effects. The large population-based sample comprised information from 28,759 twins followed for up to 23 years combined with high-quality national registry data. We measured work incapacity as the total proportion of potential workdays lost due to sickness absence, rehabilitation and disability benefits. Structural equation modeling with twin data indicated moderate genetic influences on work incapacity throughout life in both men and women, with a high degree of genetic stability from young to old adulthood. Environmental influences were mainly age-specific. Our results indicate that largely the same genetic factors influence individual differences in work incapacity throughout young, middle and older adulthood, despite major differences in degree of work incapacity and probable underlying medical causes.

scholarly journals The longitudinal association of eating behaviour and ADHD symptoms in school age children: a follow-up study in the RHEA cohort

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasiliki Leventakou ◽  
Moritz Herle ◽  
Mariza Kampouri ◽  
Katerina Margetaki ◽  
Marina Vafeiadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Longitudinal Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Longitudinal Association

AbstractPrevious evidence suggests a link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and disordered eating behaviours; however, the direction of the causal association remains unclear. Building on our previous research, we aimed to examine the longitudinal association between eating behaviours at 4 years, ADHD symptoms at 6 years of age, and the role of body mass index (BMI). We included children from the RHEA mother–child cohort in Greece, followed up at 4 and 6 years (n = 926). Parents completed the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) to assess children’s eating behaviour at 4 years and the ADHD Test (ADHDT) and Child Behaviour Checklist for ages 6–18 (CBCL/6–18) to evaluate ADHD symptoms at 4 and 6 years, respectively, as well as measures of BMI. Longitudinal structural equation modeling (SEM) was carried out to evaluate the associations of all variables between 4 and 6 years. Food responsiveness at 4 years was positively associated with hyperactivity at age 6, whereas emotional overeating was negatively associated with hyperactivity. There was no evidence of an association between eating behaviours of preschoolers and BMI at 6 years, or BMI at 4 years and later ADHD symptoms and vice versa. Findings suggest that food responsiveness is an early marker of ADHD symptoms at 6 years of age. In contrast to our hypothesis there was no significant association between ADHD at age 4 and BMI at age 6.

scholarly journals The heritability of clinically diagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder across the lifespan

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 2223-2229 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Larsson ◽  
Z. Chang ◽  
B. M. D'Onofrio ◽  
P. Lichtenstein
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Clinical Data ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Stimulant Medication ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Drug Register ◽  
High Heritability

BackgroundNo prior twin study has explored the heritability of clinically diagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Such studies are needed to resolve conflicting results regarding the importance of genetic effects for ADHD in adults. We aimed to estimate the relative contribution of genetic and environmental influences for clinically diagnosed ADHD across the lifespan with a specific focus on ADHD in adults.MethodInformation on zygosity and sex was obtained from 59514 twins born between 1959 and 2001 included in the nationwide population-based Swedish Twin Registry. Clinical data for ADHD diagnoses (i.e. stimulant or non-stimulant medication for ADHD) were obtained from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register (PDR) and from the National Patient Register (i.e. ICD-10 diagnosis of ADHD). Twin methods were applied to clinical data of ADHD diagnoses using structural equation modeling with monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins.ResultsThe best-fitting model revealed a high heritability of ADHD [0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83–0.92] for the entire sample. However, shared environmental effects were non-significant and of minimal importance. The heritability of ADHD in adults was also substantial (0.72, 95% CI 0.56–0.84).ConclusionsThis study shows that the heritability of clinically diagnosed ADHD is high across the lifespan. Our finding of high heritability for clinically diagnosed ADHD in adults indicates that the previous reports of low heritability are best explained by rater effects, and that gene-identification studies of ADHD in adults need to consider pervasiveness (e.g. multiple raters) and developmentally (e.g. childhood-onset criteria) informative data.

scholarly journals Internalizing and externalizing psychopathology in middle age: genetic and environmental architecture and stability of symptoms over 15 to 20 years

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (9) ◽  
pp. 1530-1538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Gustavson ◽  
Carol E. Franz ◽  
Matthew S. Panizzon ◽  
Michael J. Lyons ◽  
William S. Kremen
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Externalizing Psychopathology ◽  
Diagnostic Interviews ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

AbstractBackgroundInternalizing and externalizing psychopathology factors explain much of the covariance among psychiatric conditions, especially at the level of genetic risk. However, few studies have examined internalizing and externalizing factors in middle-aged samples, especially their ability to predict later symptoms across midlife. The goals of the current study were (i) to quantify the genetic and environmental influences on internalizing and externalizing psychopathology in individuals in their early 40s, and (ii) examine the extent to which these genetic and environmental influences predict self-reported measures of internalizing and externalizing symptoms 15–20 years later.Method1484 male twins completed diagnostic interviews of psychopathology at mean age 41 and self-reported measures of anxiety, depression, substance use, and related variables at up to two time-points in late middle age (mean ages 56 and 62).ResultsStructural equation modeling of the diagnostic interviews confirmed that internalizing and externalizing factors accounted for most of the genetic variance in individual disorders, with substantial genetic (ra = 0.70) and environmental (re = 0.77) correlations between the factors. Internalizing psychopathology at age 41 was correlated with latent factors capturing anxiety, depression, and/or post-traumatic stress symptoms at ages 56 (r = 0.51) and 62 (r = 0.43). Externalizing psychopathology at age 41 was correlated r = 0.67 with a latent factor capturing aggression, tobacco use, and alcohol use at age 56. Stability of both factors was driven by genetic influences.ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate the considerable stability of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology symptoms across middle age, especially their genetic influences. Diagnostic interviews effectively predict self-reported symptoms and behaviors 15–20 years later.

Sex differences in the genetic and environmental influences on the development of antisocial behavior

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
KRISTEN C. JACOBSON ◽  
CAROL A. PRESCOTT ◽  
KENNETH S. KENDLER
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Environmental Influence ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Retrospective Reports ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Adult Twins

The present study uses a population-based sample of 6,806 adult twins from same-sex and opposite-sex twin pairs to examine sex differences in the underlying genetic and environmental architecture of the development of antisocial behavior (AB). Retrospective reports of AB during three different developmental periods were obtained: prior to age 15 years (childhood), age 15–17 years (adolescent), and age 18 years and older (adult). Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that there was no evidence for sex-specific genetic or sex-specific shared family environmental influences on the development of AB; that is, the types of genetic and environmental influence were similar for males and females. For both sexes, a model that allowed for genetic influences on adolescent and adult AB that were not shared with childhood AB fit better than a model with a single genetic factor. In contrast, shared environmental influences on adolescent and adult AB overlapped entirely with shared environmental influences on childhood AB. Genetic factors played a larger role in variation in childhood AB among females, whereas shared environmental factors played a larger role among males. However, heritability of AB increased from childhood to adolescence and adulthood for both sexes, and the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences on adolescent and adult AB was approximately equal across sex. We speculate that sex differences in timing of puberty may account for the earlier presence of genetic effects among females.

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