Stability and change of genetic and environmental effects on the common liability to alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis DSM-IV dependence symptoms

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Rohan H. Palmer, Emory University; S. E. Young, University of Colorado at Denver; R. P. Corley, University of Colorado at Boulder; C. J. Hopfer, University of Colorado at Denver; M. C. Stallings, University of Colorado at Boulder; J. K. Hewitt, University of Colorado at Boulder
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-06-13
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature): Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10519-013-9599-5
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Behavior Genetics
• ISSN: 0001-8244
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 374
• End Page: 385
• Grant/Funding Information: Data collection was supported by DA011015.; The development and maintenance of the LTS sample was supported by NICHD Grant HD 010333 and MH063207.; This study was funded by NIMH Grants MH019927 and MH063207; NICHD Grant HD010333; NIDA grants DA011015; and DA015522; and NIAAA grant AA021113 (Palmer).; Individual support for the co-authors was provided by AA021113, DA011015 and DA021913.
• Keywords: Social Environment; Marijuana Abuse; Humans; Female; Male; Adolescent; Phenotype; Alcoholism; Child; Young Adult; Smoking; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• Research Categories: Psychology, Behavioral; Biology, Genetics; Health Sciences, Mental Health

Abstract

This study investigated the stability of genetic and environmental effects on the common liability to alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis dependence across adolescence and young adulthood. DSM-IV symptom counts from 2,361 adolescents were obtained using a structured diagnostic interview. Several sex-limited longitudinal common pathway models were used to examine gender differences in the magnitude of additive genetic (A), shared environment, and non-shared environmental effects over time. Model fitting indicated limited gender differences. Among older adolescents (i.e., age >14), the heritability of the latent trait was estimated at 0.43 (0.05, 0.94) during the first wave and 0.63 (0.21, 0.83) during the second wave of assessment. A common genetic factor could account for genetic influences at both assessments, as well as the majority of the stability of SAV over time [rA = 1.00 (0.55, 1.00)]. These results suggest that early genetic factors continue to play a key role at later developmental stages.