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A twin study of antisocial and neurotic symptoms in childhood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Anita Thapar  and
Peter McGuffin
Anita Thapar*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff
Peter McGuffin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Anita Thapar, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Manchester. Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, Manchester M27 4HA.
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Synopsis

There is some evidence to suggest that the role of genetic and environmental influences may vary for different types of psychiatric symptoms in childhood. The aim of this study was to examine to what extent genetic and environmental factors influence parent-rated conduct and neurotic symptoms in childhood and adolescence, using data obtained from a systematically ascertained sample of twins (198 same sex pairs) aged between 8 and 16 years. For symptoms of antisocial behaviour, transmission could be explained entirely by shared environmental factors. Social class effects were also found to have a significant influence on antisocial behaviour, although these effects only accounted for a small proportion of the variance explained by shared environmental factors. In contrast, transmission of neurotic symptoms was best explained by additive genetic influences alone with no contribution from shared environment. Non-shared environmental factors accounted for a substantial component of the variation for both antisocial behaviour and neurotic symptoms.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 6 , November 1996 , pp. 1111 - 1118
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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