Cited by 1,063Genetic Associations and EpidemiologyChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Stressful life events, genetic liability, and onset of an episode of major depression in women

Kenneth S. Kendler, Ronald C. Kessler, Ellen E. Walters, C J MacLean, Michael Churton Neale, Andrew C. Heath, L. J. Eaves·1995·American Journal of Psychiatry

Abstract

Objective This study was undertaken to clarify how genetic liability and stressful life events interact in the etiology of major depression. Method Information about stressful life events and onset of major depressive episodes in the past year was collected in a population-based sample of female-female twin pairs including 2,164 individuals, 53,215 person-months of observation, and 492 onsets of depression. Results Nine "personal" and three aggregate "network" stressful events significantly predicted onset of major depression in the month of occurrence, four of which predicted onset with an odds ratio of > 10 and were termed "severe": death of a close relative, assault, serious marital problems, and divorce/breakup. Genetic liability also had a significant impact on risk of onset of depression. For severe stressful events, as well as for 10 of the 12 individual stressful events, the best-fitting model for the joint effect of stressful events and genetic liability on onset of major depression suggested genetic control of sensitivity to the depression-inducing effects of stressful life events. In individuals at lowest genetic risk (monozygotic twin, co-twin unaffected), the probability of onset of major depression per month was predicted to be 0.5% and 6.2%, respectively, for those unexposed and exposed to a severe event. In those at highest genetic risk (monozygotic twin, co-twin affected), these probabilities were 1.1% and 14.6%, respectively. Linear regression analysis indic…

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Crossref · 10.1176/ajp.152.6.833

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Authors
Kendler, K. S., Kessler, R. C., Walters, E. E., MacLean, C. J., Neale, M. C., Heath, A. C., & Eaves, L. J.
Affiliations
Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
Venue
American Journal of Psychiatry
Published
1995-06-01
Volume
152
Issue
6
Pages
833-842
ISSN
  • 0002-953X (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-7228
OpenAlex
W2174681609
Cited by
1,063
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 69 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 47 · 2013: 54 · 2012: 49
FWCI
12.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01hd026746-05)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH040828, MH 40828)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS-31564, R01NS031564)
  • 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
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
major depressive disorder, life events, genetic susceptibility, women, monozygotic twins, co-twin control, gene-environment interaction, depression onset, assault, marital problems, divorce, twin pairs
MeSH terms
Adult, Depressive Disorder, Diseases in Twins, Female, Genotype, Humans, Life Change Events, Probability, Regression Analysis, Risk Factors, Social Support, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic, Odds Ratio

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