The British Journal of Psychiatry (2009) 195: 301-307. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.059485
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Structure of genetic and environmental risk factors for dimensional representations of DSM–IV anxiety disorders

Kristian Tambs, PhD

Department of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway, and Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Nikolai Czajkowsky, MA, MS

Department of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo

Espen Røysamb, PhD

Department of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway

Michael C. Neale, PhD

Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud, MD

Department of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and Institute of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Norway

Steven H. Aggen, PhD

Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Jennifer R. Harris, PhD

Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo

Ragnhild E. Ørstavik, MD

Department of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway

Kenneth S. Kendler, MD

Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Correspondence: Kristian Tambs, Department of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Box 4404 Nydalen, 0403 Oslo 3, Norway. Email: kristian.tambs{at}fhi.no

Declaration of interest

None.

Background

Twin data permit decomposition of comorbidity into genetically and environmentally derived correlations. No previous twin study includes all major forms of anxiety disorder.

Aims

To estimate the degree to which genetic and environmental risk factors are shared rather than unique to dimensionally scored panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, phobias, obsessive–compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Method

Data obtained from 2801 young-adult Norwegian twins by means of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview were analysed with the Mx program.

Results

A multivariate common factor model fitted best. The latent liability to all anxiety disorders was substantially more heritable (54%) than the individual disorders (23% to 40%). Most of the genetic effect was common to the disorders. Genes contributed just over 50% to the covariance between liabilities.

Conclusions

The five anxiety disorders all share genetic and environmental risk factors. This has implications for the revision of the anxiety disorder section in DSM–V.


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