Genetic and environmental influences on obsessional traits and symptoms
Abstract
Synopsis: A biometrical genetic analysis was carried out on the response of 419 pairs of twins to the 42-item version of the Leyton Obsessional Inventory. Just under half the variation in both the Obsessional Trait and Symptom Scales was due to heredity. Multivariate analysis revealed a genetic effect on the development of obsessional personality and also the transmission of a general tendency predisposing to neurotic breakdown. Although the influence of heredity was outweighed by that of the environment, the latter effect showed an absence of general factors and, in particular, of any noticeable effect from the common home environment.
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The common single nucleotide polymorphism heritability of OCD is estimated at 28% in meta-analyses, while overall heritability is reported at 40% to 50%.
“The common single nucleotide polymorphism heritability of OCD has been estimated to be 28% in meta-analyses (18), whereas the overall heritability is reported to be 40% to 50% (19–24).”
From Maternal Effects as Causes of Risk for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (2020) · cites this paper as [19]
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- Authors
- Clifford, C. A., Murray, R. M., & Fulker, D. W.
- Corresponding author
- Murray, R. M.
- Venue
- Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1984-11
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 791-800
- ISSN
- 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8978
- OpenAlex
- W2146471748
- Cited by
- 122
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 0.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- obsessive-compulsive symptoms, heritability, twin studies, genetic factors, environmental influences, family environment, shared environment
- MeSH terms
- Diseases in Twins, Humans, Neurotic Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Psychological Tests, Psychometrics, Social Environment
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