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.

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

Statistics

DownloadsShow export options

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Activity Overview

6 month trend

422Downloads

6 month trend

545Hits

Additional statistics are available via IRStats2.

Archive Staff Only (login required)

Edit/View Item