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Aetiology
There was no sex difference in genetic correlations between neuroticism and major depression
Fanous A, Gardner CO, Prescott CA et al. Neuroticism, major depression and gender: a population-based twin study. Psychological Medicine 2002 May; 32: 719–28.[CrossRef][Medline]
QUESTION: Are neuroticism and major depression more highly genetically correlated in females compared to males?
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
Cross-sectional twin study.
Virginia, USA.
White twins born 1934–1974: 863 male-male monozygotic; 649 male-male dizygotic; 506 female-female monozygotic; 345 dizygotic, and 1408 opposite sex pairs.
Major depression was assessed using structured interviews with DSM-III-R criteria. Neuroticism was assessed using the short-form Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Statistical models accounted for additive genetic, common environmental and individual-specific environmental components.
Additive genetic and individual-specific environmental factors were the best predictors of both neuroticism and major depression. Within-sex correlations between neuroticism and major depression were 0.68 for men and 0.49 for women. There was no significant sex difference in genetic correlations.
Neuroticism and major depression are more common among women than men, leading some to believe these traits are more genetically correlated in women. This study found no sex difference in the genetic correlation between neuroticism and major depression.
For correspondence: A Fanous, Box 980126, Richmond, VA 23298-0126, USA.
Source of funding: National Institutes of
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, USA
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