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Childhood adversity and psychosis: Examining whether the association is due to genetic confounding using a monozygotic twin differences approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2012

S. Alemany ,
X. Goldberg ,
R. van Winkel ,
C. Gastó ,
V. Peralta  and
L. Fañanás
S. Alemany
Affiliation:
Anthropology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Avenue Diagonal 643, 08028Barcelona, Spain Biomedicine Institute of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Diagonal, 645, 08028Barcelona, Spain Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007Madrid, Spain
X. Goldberg
Affiliation:
Anthropology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Avenue Diagonal 643, 08028Barcelona, Spain Biomedicine Institute of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Diagonal, 645, 08028Barcelona, Spain Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007Madrid, Spain
R. van Winkel
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Minderbroedersberg, 4-6, 6211LK Maastricht, The Netherlands University Psychiatric Centre Catholic University Leuven, Campus Kortenberg, Leuvensesteeweg, 517, 3070Kortengerg, Belgium
C. Gastó
Affiliation:
Biomedicine Institute of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Diagonal, 645, 08028Barcelona, Spain Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clínic, Villaorroel, 170, 08036Barcelona, Spain Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Rosselló, 149-153, 08036Barcelona, Spain
V. Peralta
Affiliation:
Psychiatry Section B, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Irunlarrea, 4, 31008Pamplona, Spain
L. Fañanás*
Affiliation:
Anthropology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Avenue Diagonal 643, 08028Barcelona, Spain Biomedicine Institute of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Diagonal, 645, 08028Barcelona, Spain Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007Madrid, Spain
*
⁎Corresponding author. Tel.: +34 93 402 1461; fax: +34 93 403 5740. E-mail address: [email protected] (L. Fañanás).
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Abstract

Purpose

To test whether the association between childhood adversity and positive and negative psychotic experiences is due to genetic confounding.

Method

Childhood adversity and psychotic experiences were assessed in an ongoing sample of 226 twins from the general population. A monozygotic (MZ) twin differences approach was used to assess possible genetic confounding.

Results

In the whole sample, childhood adversity was significantly associated with positive (β = 45; SE = 0.16; P = 0.008) and negative psychotic experiences (β = 0.77; SE = 0.18; P < 0.01). Within-pair MZ twin differences in exposure to childhood adversity were significantly associated with differences in positive (β = 71; SE = 0.29; P = 0.016) and negative psychotic experiences (β = 98; SE = 0.38; P = 0.014) in a subsample of 85 MZ twin pairs.

Conclusions

Individuals exposed to childhood adversity are more likely to report psychotic experiences. Furthermore, our findings indicate that this association is not due to genetic confounding.

Keywords

Schizophrenia and psychosisGeneticsStressChild abuse
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , May 2013 , pp. 207 - 212
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2012

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