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Assessing gene–environment interactions on anxiety symptom subtypes across childhood and adolescence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2007

Jennifer Y. F. Lau*
Affiliation:
US National Institute of Mental Health Kings CollegeLondon
Alice M. Gregory
Affiliation:
Kings CollegeLondon Goldsmiths College, London
Michelle A. Goldwin
Affiliation:
US National Institute of Mental Health
Daniel S. Pine
Affiliation:
US National Institute of Mental Health
Thalia C. Eley
Affiliation:
Kings CollegeLondon
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Jennifer Lau, NIMH/NIH, 15K, North Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-2670; E-mail: lauj@mail.nih.gov.

Abstract

Consistent evidence shows both genetic and stress-related risks on child and adolescent anxiety, yet few studies have considered the degree to which genetic effects are moderated by stress (gene–environment interaction). We used longitudinal data from both a child and adolescent sample of twins to examine three novel issues on the presence of gene–environment interaction on anxiety symptoms. First, we assessed moderation of genetic risks on anxiety symptoms by negative life events in each age group. Second, by distinguishing between “stable” and “age-specific” genetic factors, we explored the continuity of gene–environment interaction across time and/or its emergence at specific ages. Third, we compared the presence of gene–environment interaction across different symptom types (general, panic, social, and separation). Genetic effects on separation anxiety symptoms in childhood (mean age = 8 years, 6 months) and panic anxiety symptoms in adolescence (mean age = 15 years) increased across independent negative life events. Shared environmental effects on separation anxiety symptoms and nonshared environmental effects on general anxiety symptoms in adolescence were also moderated by negative life events. We interpret these preliminary findings tentatively in the context of gene–environment interaction on anxiety in general, and on early separation and later panic anxiety in particular.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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