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Cited by 61Genetic Associations and EpidemiologyTreatment of Major DepressionChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Familial influences on the clinical characteristics of major depression: a twin study

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Kendler, K. S., Neale, M. C., Kessler, R. C., Heath, A. C., Eaves, L. J.·1992·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
DOI 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1992.tb03283.x
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Abstract

We sought in this study to clarify the role that familial factors play in influencing the clinical presentation of major depression (MD). We examined the similarity of the historical and symptomatic features of MD in 176 pairs of female‐female monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins from a population‐based registry, where both members reported a history of MD defined by DSM‐III‐R criteria. The age at onset and treatment‐seeking were significantly correlated in all twin pairs and the correlation in concordant DZ pairs was actually somewhat higher than in concordant MZ twins. The degree of impairment was modestly correlated in all twin pairs with substantially higher correlations in MZ vs DZ twins. No twin resemblance was observed for number of episodes or longest duration of an episode. Twin resemblance for the clinical features of MD was modest, but so was their consistency for the same individual over successive 1‐year periods. However, in 5 of the 6 neurovegetative symptoms involving changes in appetite, weight and sleep, MZ twins were significantly correlated and correlations were significantly greater in concordant MZ vs DZ twins. Although the familial factors that cause twin resemblance for the age at onset and treatment seeking appear to be largely environmental, twin resemblance for the degree of impairment and neurovegetative symptoms are probably due largely to genetic factors. Our results suggest that familial factors influence the predisposition to some clinical features of MD.

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  1. SPENCE JE, COREY LA, NANCE WE, MARAZITA ML, KENDLER KS, SCHIEKEN RM. Molecular analysis of twin zygosity using VNTR DNA probes. Am J Hum Genet 1988: 43 (3): A159.

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Authors
Kendler, K. S., Neale, M. C., Kessler, R. C., Heath, A. C., & Eaves, L. J.
Affiliations
  • Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
Corresponding author
Kendler, K. S.
ORCID
Venue
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1992-11
Volume
86
Issue
5
Pages
371-378
ISSN
  • 0001-690X (ISSN-L)
  • 1600-0447
DOI
10.1111/j.1600-0447.1992.tb03283.x
OpenAlex
W1990113660
Cited by
59
References
47
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
FWCI
0.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 5408 d)
Locations
  • Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01hd026746-05)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH040828, MH 40828)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS-25630)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 26746)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
major depressive disorder, family factors, monozygotic twins, dizygotic twins, twin concordance, age of onset, treatment seeking, functional disability, neurovegetative symptoms, genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, female twins
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Depressive Disorder, Environment, Family, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Severity of Illness Index, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic, Causality

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