BIROn - Birkbeck Institutional Research Online

    Association between stressful life events and psychotic experiences in adolescence: evidence for gene-environment correlations

    Shakoor, Sania and Zavos, H. and Haworth, C.M.A. and McGuire, P. and Cardno, A.G. and Freeman, D. and Ronald, Angelica (2016) Association between stressful life events and psychotic experiences in adolescence: evidence for gene-environment correlations. British Journal of Psychiatry 208 (6), pp. 532-538. ISSN 0007-1250.

    [img] Text
    Shakoor_SLEs and PEs.pdf - Author's Accepted Manuscript
    Restricted to Repository staff only

    Download (283kB) | Request a copy
    [img]
    Preview
    Text
    13081.pdf - Published Version of Record
    Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

    Download (605kB) | Preview

    Abstract

    - Background: Stressful life events (SLEs) are associated with psychotic experiences (PEs). SLEs might act as an environmental risk factor, but may also share a genetic propensity with PEs. - Aims: Estimate the extent to which genetic and environmental factors influence the relationship between SLEs and PEs. - Method: Self and parent-reports from a community-based twin sample (4,830 16-year-old pairs) were analysed using structural equation model-fitting. - Results: SLEs correlated with positive PEs (r = .12-.14, all p<. 001). Modest heritability was shown for PEs (25-57%) and dependent SLEs (32%). Genetic influences explained the majority of the modest covariation between dependent SLEs and paranoia and cognitive disorganisation (bivariate heritabilities = 74-86%). The relationship between SLEs and hallucinations and grandiosity was explained by both genetic and common environmental effects. - Conclusion: Further to dependent SLEs being an environmental risk factor, individuals may have an underlying genetic propensity increasing their risk of dependent SLEs and positive PEs.

    Metadata

    Item Type: Article
    Additional Information: This is an author-produced electronic version of an article accepted for publication in the British Journal of Psychiatry. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at the link above.
    School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Psychological Sciences
    Research Centres and Institutes: Brain and Cognitive Development, Centre for (CBCD)
    Depositing User: Angelica Ronald
    Date Deposited: 18 Apr 2016 14:54
    Last Modified: 02 Aug 2023 17:18
    URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/13081

    Statistics

    Activity Overview
    6 month trend
    438Downloads
    6 month trend
    579Hits

    Additional statistics are available via IRStats2.

    Archive Staff Only (login required)

    Edit/View Item Edit/View Item