Exploring the effects of family and life events on genetic and environmental architecture of schizotypal and hypomanic dimensions: Insights from a twin study.

Autor: Colli C; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy., Garzitto M; Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy., Bonivento C; Scientific Institute IRCCS 'Eugenio Medea', Pasian di Prato (Ud), Italy., Delvecchio G; Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy., Maggioni E; Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy., Fagnani C; Italian Twin Registry, Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy., Medda E; Italian Twin Registry, Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy., Mauri M; Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini (LC), Italy., Nobile M; Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini (LC), Italy., Brambilla P; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: paolo.brambilla1@unimi.it.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of affective disorders [J Affect Disord] 2024 Oct 01; Vol. 362, pp. 375-383. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 05.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.010
Abstrakt: Background: Strategies of prevention for psychiatric disorders need a deep understanding of the aetiological factors involved in the psychopathological processes. Our twin study aims at disentangling the contributions of genes and environment to schizotypal and hypomanic dimensions, considering the role of stressful life events (LEs) and the quality of family relationships.
Methods: The Magical Ideation Scale (MIS) and Perceptual Aberration Scale (PAS) were used to assess positive schizotypy, while Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) and its sub-scales were used to investigate proneness to affective disorders. 268 twins (54.5 % female; aged 18.0 ± 6.68) were included. Participants filled out a questionnaire on LEs and their parents provided an evaluation of intra-family relationship (Relationship Quality Index, RQI). Classic univariate twin models for quantitative traits were fitted for scales, and the effects of covariates (LEs and RQI) were assessed.
Results: For MIS, HPS and its sub-scales, significant common and unique environmental effects were detected, with genetic factors affecting only HPS Social Vitality sub-scale. Unique environment was the only source of variance of PAS score. The number of recent LEs influenced MIS and PAS models, while RQI score affected MIS model.
Limitations: The main limitation of the study is the small sample size, which reduces statistical power and may potentially lead to an underestimation of heritability. Additionally, the cross-sectional design limits the possibility to draw causal considerations.
Conclusions: Findings provide preliminary evidence for a significant environmental role in modulating states of vulnerability. Moreover, the expression of positive schizotypy resulted influenced by recent stressors and intra-family relationships.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None.
(Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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