@article{ref1,
title="Environmental adversity and increasing genetic risk for externalizing disorders",
journal="Archives of general psychiatry",
year="2009",
author="McGue, Matthew K. and Iacono, William G. and Dirago, Ana C. and South, Susan C. and Hicks, Brian M.",
volume="66",
number="6",
pages="640-648",
abstract="CONTEXT: Studies of gene-environment interplay in the development of psychiatric and substance use disorders are rapidly accumulating. However, few attempts have been made to integrate findings and to articulate general mechanisms of gene-environment influence in the emergence of psychopathology. OBJECTIVE: To identify patterns of gene-environment interplay between externalizing disorders (antisocial behavior and substance use) and several environmental risk factors. DESIGN: We used quantitative genetic models to examine how genetic and environmental risk for externalizing disorders changes as a function of environmental context. SETTING: Participants were recruited from the community and took part in a daylong assessment at a university laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 1315 male and female twin pairs participating in the assessment of the Minnesota Twin Family Study at age 17 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Multiple measures and informants were used to construct a composite of externalizing disorders and composite measures of 6 environmental risk factors, including academic achievement and engagement, antisocial and prosocial peer affiliations, mother-child and father-child relationship problems, and stressful life events. RESULTS: A significant gene x environment interaction was detected between each environmental risk factor and externalizing such that greater environmental adversity was associated with increased genetic risk for externalizing. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of environmental adversity, genetic factors become more important in the etiology of externalizing disorders. The consistency of the results further suggests a general mechanism of environmental influence on externalizing disorders regardless of the specific form of the environmental risk.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0003-990X",
doi="10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2008.554",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2008.554"
}