Higher-Order Genetic and Environmental Structure of Prevalent Forms of Child and Adolescent Psychopathology

Abstract

Context It is necessary to understand the etiologic structure of child and adolescent psychopathology to advance theory and guide future research. Objective To test alternative models of the higher-order structure of etiologic influences on 11 dimensions of child and adolescent psychopathology using confirmatory factor analyses of genetic and environmental covariances. Design Representative sample of twins. Participants 1,571 pairs of 9-17 year old twins. Setting Home interviews. Main Outcome Measures Structured assessments of psychopathology using adult caregivers and youth as informants. Results The best-fitting genetic model revealed that most genetic factors nonspecifically influence risk for either all 11 symptom dimensions or for dimensions of psychopathology within one of two broad domains. With some notable exceptions, dimension-specific genetic influences accounted for modest amounts of variance. Conclusions To inform theory and guide molecular genetic studies, an etiologic model is offered in which three patterns of pleiotropy are hypothesized to be the principal modes of genetic risk transmission for common forms of child and adolescent psychopathology. Some common environmental influences were found, but consistent with a “generalist genes, specialist environments” model, there was little sharing of environmental influences. This implies that prevalent dimensions of child and adolescent psychopathology mostly share their genetic liabilities but are differentiated by nonshared experiences.

Future Directions in Emotion Dysregulation and Youth Psychopathology

“…Consistent with a major thesis of this article, twin studies indicate that both internalizing and externalizing liabilities are highly heritable, but that specific behavioral syndromes are shaped considerably by environments (Krueger et al, 2002;Lahey et al, 2011;Tuvblad et al, 2009). Thus, whether a child who inherits trait impulsivity (i.e., liability to externalizing disorders; see Beauchaine & McNulty, 2013) develops ADHD or more serious externalizing conduct depends largely on environmental experience (see Figure 1).…”

“…The externalizing factor included alcohol dependence, drug dependence, and antisocial personality disorder. Additional factor analyses conducted since provide support for Krueger's initial findings (e.g., Krueger, Markon, Patrick, Benning, & Kramer, 2007;Krueger et al, 2002) and extend the externalizing factor to include hyperactivity=impulsivity, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder (e.g., Lahey, Van Hulle, Singh, Waldman, & Rathouz, 2011;Tuvblad, Zheng, Raine, & Baker, 2009). More recent work demonstrates that thought disorder emerges as a third higher order factor when psychotic symptoms are included (e.g., Wright et al, 2013).…”

The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): A dimensional alternative to traditional nosologies.

“…The HiTOP spectra are positively correlated (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2003;Kotov et al, 2011;Krueger & Markon, 2006;Markon, 2010a;Røysamb et al, 2011), and these associations are consistent with the existence of a general psychopathology factor or p factor (Caspi et al, 2014;Lahey et al, 2011Lahey et al, , 2012. This possibility has been supported by studies that evaluated a bifactor model, which is composed of a general dimension defined by all forms of psychopathology and specific dimensions defined by smaller groups of disorders (Caspi et al, 2014;Lahey et al, 2011Lahey et al, , 2012Lahey et al, , 2015Laceulle, Vollebergh, & Ormel, 2015;Olino et al, 2014).…”

The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): A Dimensional Alternative to Traditional Nosologies

“…This possibility has been supported by studies that evaluated a bifactor model, which is composed of a general dimension defined by all forms of psychopathology and specific dimensions defined by smaller groups of disorders (Caspi et al, 2014;Lahey et al, 2011Lahey et al, , 2012Lahey et al, , 2015Laceulle, Vollebergh, & Ormel, 2015;Olino et al, 2014).…”