Association between stressful life events and psychotic experiences in adolescence: Evidence for gene–environment correlations
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Volume
208
Pagination
532 - 538
DOI
10.1192/bjp.bp.114.159079
Journal
British Journal of Psychiatry
Issue
ISSN
0007-1250
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background:
Stressful life events (SLEs) are associated with psychotic
experiences. SLEs might act as an environmental risk factor,
but may also share a genetic propensity with psychotic
experiences.
Aims:
To estimate the extent to which genetic and environmental
factors influence the relationship between SLEs and
psychotic experiences.
Method:
Self- and parent reports from a community-based twin
sample (4830 16-year-old pairs) were analysed using
structural equation model fitting.
Results:
SLEs correlated with positive psychotic experiences
(r = 0.12–0.14, all P50.001). Modest heritability was shown
for psychotic experiences (25–57%) and dependent SLEs
(32%). Genetic influences explained the majority of the
modest covariation between dependent SLEs and paranoia
and cognitive disorganisation (bivariate heritabilities 74–86%).
The relationship between SLEs and hallucinations and
grandiosity was explained by both genetic and common
environmental effects.
Conclusions:
Further to dependent SLEs being an environmental risk
factor, individuals may have an underlying genetic propensity
increasing their risk of dependent SLEs and positive
psychotic experiences.
Declaration of interest:
None.
Authors
Shakoor, S; Zavos, HMS; Haworth, CMA; McGuire, P; Cardno, AG; Freeman, D; Ronald, ACollections
- Centre for Psychiatry [451]
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