Cited by 1,243Bipolar Disorder and TreatmentGenetic Associations and EpidemiologySchizophrenia research and treatment

The Heritability of Bipolar Affective Disorder and the Genetic Relationship to Unipolar Depression

McGuffin, Peter, Rijsdijk, Fruhling, Andrew, Martin, Sham, Pak, Katz, Randy, Cardno, Alastair·2003·Archives of General Psychiatry

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Twin studies of bipolar affective disorder (BPD) have either been small or have not used explicit diagnostic criteria. There has been little use of genetic model fitting and no analyses to explore the etiological overlap with unipolar depression (UPD). METHODS: Sixty-seven twin pairs, 30 monozygotic and 37 dizygotic, in which the proband had BPD were ascertained, and lifetime diagnoses were made using DSM-IV criteria. Univariate models were applied to estimate the contribution of additive genetic and environmental effects. Bipolar data were then combined with those from 68 monozygotic and 109 dizygotic pairs in which the proband had UPD. Two models were explored: a classic 2-threshold approach, in which BPD and UPD occupy the same continuum of liability but differ in severity, and a correlated liability model of mania and depression. RESULTS: Heritability of BPD was estimated at 85% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73-0.93) using narrow concordance and 89% (95% CI, 0.61-1.0) using broad concordance, with no shared environmental effects detected. A 2-threshold model was an unsatisfactory fit. Fitting a correlated liability model revealed a genetic correlation of 0.65 (95% CI, 0.58-0.75) between mania and depression and a correlation of 0.59 (95% CI, 0.15-0.84) for nonfamilial environment. Approximately 71% of the genetic variance for mania was not shared with depression. CONCLUSIONS: As defined by the DSM-IV, BPD is highly heritable. There are substantial genetic and nonshared environmental correlations between mania and depression, but most of the genetic variance in liability to mania is specific to the manic syndrome.

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Crossref · 10.1001/archpsyc.60.5.497

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Authors
McGuffin, P., Rijsdijk, F., Andrew, M., Sham, P., Katz, R., & Cardno, A.
Affiliations
King's College London (GB)
Venue
Archives of General Psychiatry
Published
2003-05-01
Volume
60
Issue
5
Pages
497
ISSN
0003-990X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2064554173
Cited by
1,243
References
21
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 88 · 2020: 62 · 2019: 55 · 2018: 53 · 2017: 66 · 2016: 87 · 2015: 66 · 2014: 63 · 2013: 70 · 2012: 72
FWCI
16.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of General Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • The HKU Scholars Hub (University of Hong Kong) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • King's College London
  • Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, King's College London, University of London
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH-44359, R01MH044359)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
Keywords
bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, heritability, twin concordance, genetic correlation, mania, depression, nonshared environment, genetic variance
MeSH terms
Bipolar Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Diseases in Twins, Family, Humans, London, Models, Genetic, Registries, Severity of Illness Index, Social Environment, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic, Confidence Intervals, Genetic Predisposition to Disease

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