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Hannigan LJ, Lund IO, Dahl Askelund A, Ystrom E, Corfield EC, Ask H, Havdahl A. Genotype-environment interplay in associations between maternal drinking and offspring emotional and behavioral problems. Psychol Med 2024; 54:203-214. [PMID: 37929303 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723003057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While maternal at-risk drinking is associated with children's emotional and behavioral problems, there is a paucity of research that properly accounts for genetic confounding and gene-environment interplay. Therefore, it remains uncertain what mechanisms underlie these associations. We assess the moderation of associations between maternal at-risk drinking and childhood emotional and behavioral problems by common genetic variants linked to environmental sensitivity (genotype-by-environment [G × E] interaction) while accounting for shared genetic risk between mothers and offspring (GE correlation). METHODS We use data from 109 727 children born to 90 873 mothers enrolled in the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study. Women self-reported alcohol consumption and reported emotional and behavioral problems when children were 1.5/3/5 years old. We included child polygenic scores (PGSs) for traits linked to environmental sensitivity as moderators. RESULTS Associations between maternal drinking and child emotional (β1 = 0.04 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03-0.05]) and behavioral (β1 = 0.07 [0.06-0.08]) outcomes attenuated after controlling for measured confounders and were almost zero when we accounted for unmeasured confounding (emotional: β1 = 0.01 [0.00-0.02]; behavioral: β1 = 0.01 [0.00-0.02]). We observed no moderation of these adjusted exposure effects by any of the PGS. CONCLUSIONS The lack of strong evidence for G × E interaction may indicate that the mechanism is not implicated in this kind of intergenerational association. It may also reflect insufficient power or the relatively benign nature of the exposure in this sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie John Hannigan
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- MRC (Medical Research Council) Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ingunn Olea Lund
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Adrian Dahl Askelund
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- PROMENTA, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elizabeth C Corfield
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Helga Ask
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- PROMENTA, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alexandra Havdahl
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- MRC (Medical Research Council) Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- PROMENTA, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Peter HL, Giglberger M, Streit F, Frank J, Kreuzpointner L, Rietschel M, Kudielka BM, Wüst S. Association of polygenic scores for depression and neuroticism with perceived stress in daily life during a long-lasting stress period. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2023; 22:e12872. [PMID: 37876358 PMCID: PMC10733580 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Genetic factors contribute significantly to interindividual differences in the susceptibility to stress-related disorders. As stress can also be conceptualized as environmental exposure, controlled gene-environment interaction (GxE) studies with an in-depth phenotyping may help to unravel mechanisms underlying the interplay between genetic factors and stress. In a prospective-longitudinal quasi-experimental study, we investigated whether polygenic scores (PGS) for depression (DEP-PGS) and neuroticism (NEU-PGS), respectively, were associated with responses to chronic stress in daily life. We examined law students (n = 432) over 13 months. Participants in the stress group experienced a long-lasting stress phase, namely the preparation for the first state examination for law students. The control group consisted of law students without particular stress exposure. In the present manuscript, we analyzed perceived stress levels assessed at high frequency and in an ecologically valid manner by ambulatory assessments as well as depression symptoms and two parameters of the cortisol awakening response. The latter was only assessed in a subsample (n = 196). No associations between the DEP-PGS and stress-related variables were found. However, for the NEU-PGS we found a significant GxE effect. Only in individuals experiencing academic stress a higher PGS for neuroticism predicted stronger increases of perceived stress levels until the exam. At baseline, a higher NEU-PGS was associated with higher perceived stress levels in both groups. Despite the small sample size, we provide preliminary evidence that the genetic disposition for neuroticism is associated with stress level increases in daily life during a long-lasting stress period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L. Peter
- Institute of PsychologyUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | | | - Fabian Streit
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental HealthUniversity of MannheimMannheimGermany
| | - Josef Frank
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental HealthUniversity of MannheimMannheimGermany
| | | | - Marcella Rietschel
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental HealthUniversity of MannheimMannheimGermany
| | | | - Stefan Wüst
- Institute of PsychologyUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
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Rose H, Womick J, King LA. Purpose maintained: Adverse childhood experiences and meaning in life. J Pers 2023; 91:1425-1441. [PMID: 36748110 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Three studies examined the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and meaning in life, focusing on the facets of meaning-coherence, significance, and purpose. METHOD In Study 1 (N = 1804), college students rated adverse childhood experiences, global meaning in life, and its facets. In Study 2 (N = 822), noncollege adults rated childhood trauma, meaning in life facets, attachment style, mood, and neuroticism. In Study 3 (N = 380) college students wrote about a positive and negative childhood memory, rating the facets of meaning immediately after each writing task. RESULTS In Studies 1-2, at the level of zero-order correlations, adverse childhood experiences related negatively to coherence, significance, and purpose. Controlling for the other facets, adverse childhood experiences remained negatively related to coherence and significance but were unrelated to purpose. Negative relationships between adverse childhood experiences and coherence and significance maintained controlling for covariates (Study 2). In Study 3, the predicted 3-way interaction showed that after recalling a negative childhood memory, adverse childhood experiences predicted lower significance and coherence but higher purpose. CONCLUSIONS Adverse childhood experiences consistently predict lower feelings of coherence and significance but, accounting for these associations, are unrelated to purpose. Purpose may represent a motivational strength emerging out of childhood adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hope Rose
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Jake Womick
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Laura A King
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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Klingenberg B, Guloksuz S, Pries LK, Cinar O, Menne-Lothmann C, Decoster J, van Winkel R, Collip D, Delespaul P, De Hert M, Derom C, Thiery E, Jacobs N, Wichers M, Lin BD, Luykx J, van Os J, Rutten BPF. Gene-environment interaction study on the polygenic risk score for neuroticism, childhood adversity, and parental bonding. PERSONALITY NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 6:e5. [PMID: 38107775 PMCID: PMC10725776 DOI: 10.1017/pen.2023.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The present study examines whether neuroticism is predicted by genetic vulnerability, summarized as polygenic risk score for neuroticism (PRSN), in interaction with bullying, parental bonding, and childhood adversity. Data were derived from a general population adolescent and young adult twin cohort. The final sample consisted of 202 monozygotic and 436 dizygotic twins and 319 twin pairs. The Short Eysenck Personality questionnaire was used to measure neuroticism. PRSN was trained on the results from the Genetics of Personality Consortium (GPC) and United Kingdom Biobank (UKB) cohorts, yielding two different PRSN. Multilevel mixed-effects models were used to analyze the main and interacting associations of PRSN, childhood adversity, bullying, and parental bonding style with neuroticism. We found no evidence of gene-environment correlation. PRSN thresholds of .005 and .2 were chosen, based on GPC and UKB datasets, respectively. After correction for confounders, all the individual variables were associated with the expression of neuroticism: both PRSN from GPC and UKB, childhood adversity, maternal bonding, paternal bonding, and bullying in primary school and secondary school. However, the results indicated no evidence for gene-environment interaction in this cohort. These results suggest that genetic vulnerability on the one hand and negative life events (childhood adversity and bullying) and positive life events (optimal parental bonding) on the other represent noninteracting pathways to neuroticism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Klingenberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
| | - Sinan Guloksuz
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of medicine, USA
| | - Lotta-Katrin Pries
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
| | - Ozan Cinar
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia Menne-Lothmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Decoster
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
- University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ruud van Winkel
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
- University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dina Collip
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
| | - Philippe Delespaul
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
| | - Marc De Hert
- University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Antwerp Health Law and Ethics Chair, AHLEC University Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Catherine Derom
- Centre of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghent University Hospitals, Belgium
| | - Evert Thiery
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospitals, Belgium
| | - Nele Jacobs
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University of the Netherlands, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Wichers
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
- The Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), The Netherlands
| | - Bochao D. Lin
- Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jurjen Luykx
- Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jim van Os
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
- Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
- King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, UK
| | - Bart P. F. Rutten
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
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Early life adversity shapes neural circuit function during sensitive postnatal developmental periods. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:306. [PMID: 35915071 PMCID: PMC9343623 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02092-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life adversity (ELA) is a major risk factor for mental illness, but the neurobiological mechanisms by which ELA increases the risk for future psychopathology are still poorly understood. Brain development is particularly malleable during prenatal and early postnatal life, when complex neural circuits are being formed and refined through an interplay of excitatory and inhibitory neural input, synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, myelination, and neurogenesis. Adversity that influences these processes during sensitive periods of development can thus have long-lasting and pervasive effects on neural circuit maturation. In this review, we will discuss clinical and preclinical evidence for the impact of ELA on neural circuit formation with a focus on the early postnatal period, and how long-lasting impairments in these circuits can affect future behavior. We provide converging evidence from human and animal studies on how ELA alters the functional development of brain regions, neural circuits, and neurotransmitter systems that are crucial for cognition and affective behavior, including the hippocampus, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, neural networks of fear responses and cognition, and the serotonin (5-HT) system. We also discuss how gene-by-environment (GxE) interactions can determine individual differences in susceptibility and resilience to ELA, as well as molecular pathways by which ELA regulates neural circuit development, for which we emphasize epigenetic mechanisms. Understanding the molecular and neurobiological mechanisms underlying ELA effects on brain function and psychopathology during early postnatal sensitive periods may have great potential to advance strategies to better treat or prevent psychiatric disorders that have their origin early in life.
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Zainal NH, Newman MG. Life Satisfaction Prevents Decline in Working Memory, Spatial Cognition, and Processing Speed: Latent Change Score Analyses Across 23 Years. Eur Psychiatry 2022; 65:1-55. [PMID: 35437134 PMCID: PMC9121850 DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Within-person growth in life satisfaction (LS) can protect against declines in cognitive functioning, and, conversely, over time. However, most studies have been cross-sectional, thereby precluding causal inferences. Thus, we used bivariate dual latent change score modeling to test within-person change-to-future change relations between LS and cognition. Method Community adults completed in-person tests of verbal working memory (WM), processing speed, spatial cognition, and an LS self-report. Five waves of assessment occurred across 23 years. Results Reduction in LS predicted future decreases in spatial cognition, processing speed, and verbal WM (|d | = 0.150–0.354). Additionally, depletion in processing speed and verbal WM predicted a future decrease in LS (d = 0.142–0.269). However, change in spatial cognition did not predict change in LS (|d | = 0.085). Discussion LS and verbal WM and processing speed predicted one another across long durations. Evidence-based therapies can be augmented to target LS and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Hani Zainal
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michelle G. Newman
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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Childhood Adoption and Mental Health in Adulthood: The Role of Gene-Environment Correlations and Interactions in the UK Biobank. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 87:708-716. [PMID: 31862157 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Being adopted early in life, an indicator of exposure to early-life adversity, has been consistently associated with poor mental health outcomes in adulthood. Such associations have largely been attributed to stressful environments, e.g., exposure to trauma, abuse, or neglect. However, mental health is substantially heritable, and genetic influences may contribute to the exposure to childhood adversity, resulting in potential genetic confounding of such associations. METHODS Here, we explored associations between childhood adoption and mental health-related outcomes in midlife in 243,797 UK Biobank participants (n adopted = 3151). We used linkage disequilibrium score regression and polygenic risk scores for depressive symptoms, schizophrenia, neuroticism, and subjective well-being to address potential genetic confounding (gene-environment correlations) and gene-environment interactions. As outcomes, we explored depressive symptoms, bipolar disorder, neuroticism, loneliness, and mental health-related socioeconomic and psychosocial measures in adoptees compared with nonadopted participants. RESULTS Adoptees were slightly worse off on almost all mental, socioeconomic, and psychosocial measures. Each standard deviation increase in polygenic risk for depressive symptoms, schizophrenia, and neuroticism was associated with 6%, 5%, and 6% increase in the odds of being adopted, respectively. Significant genetic correlations between adoption status and depressive symptoms, major depression, and schizophrenia were observed. No evidence for gene-environment interaction between genetic risk and adoption on mental health was found. CONCLUSIONS The association between childhood adoption and mental health cannot fully be attributed to stressful environments but is partly explained by differences in genetic risk between adoptees and those who have not been adopted (i.e., gene-environment correlation).
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Li JJ, Hilton EC, Lu Q, Hong J, Greenberg JS, Mailick MR. Validating psychosocial pathways of risk between neuroticism and late life depression using a polygenic score approach. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY 2019; 128:200-211. [PMID: 30829503 PMCID: PMC6462143 DOI: 10.1037/abn0000419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Neuroticism is a stable and heritable personality trait that is strongly linked to depression. Yet, little is known about its association with late life depression, as well as how neuroticism eventuates into depression. This study used data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS; N = 4,877) to examine the direct and indirect effects of neuroticism on late life depression at 3 points in the life course-ages 53, 64, and 71-via stressful life events (i.e., independent and dependent) and social supports measured across adulthood and into later life. Neuroticism was assayed using multiple methods, including self-report measures (phenotypic model) and a polygenic score (polygenic model) informed by a meta-analytic genome-wide association study. Results indicated that the phenotypic model of neuroticism and late life depression was partially mediated via dependent stressful life events experienced after the age of 53 and by age 64 social support. This association was replicated in the polygenic model of neuroticism, providing key evidence that the findings are robust. No indirect effects emerged with respect to age 53 social support, age 71 social support, adult dependent stressful life events (experienced between age 19 and 52), and adult and late life independent stressful life events in either the phenotypic or polygenic models as they pertained to late life depression. Results are consistent with previous findings that individuals with high neuroticism may be vulnerable to late life depression through psychosocial risk factors that are, in part, attributable to their own personality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Li
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1202 West Johnson St., Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Emily C. Hilton
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1202 West Johnson St., Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Qiongshi Lu
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Jinkuk Hong
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Jan S. Greenberg
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1350 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Marsha R. Mailick
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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