Cited by 16Genetic Associations and EpidemiologyNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorMental Health Research Topics

Genetic and environmental determinants of stressful life events and their overlap with depression and neuroticism

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Clarke, Toni-Kim, Zeng, Yanni, Navrady, Lauren, Xia, Charley, Haley, Chris, Campbell, Archie, Navarro, Pau, Amador, Carmen +13 more·2018·Wellcome Open Research

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Abstract

Background: Stressful life events (SLEs) and neuroticism are risk factors for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, SLEs and neuroticism are heritable and genetic risk for SLEs is correlated with risk for MDD. We sought to investigate the genetic and environmental contributions to SLEs in a family-based sample, and quantify genetic overlap with MDD and neuroticism. Methods: A subset of Generation Scotland: the Scottish Family Health Study (GS), consisting of 9618 individuals with information on MDD, past 6 month SLEs, neuroticism and genome-wide genotype data was used in the present study. We estimated the heritability of SLEs using GCTA software. The environmental contribution to SLEs was assessed by modelling familial, couple and sibling components. Using polygenic risk scores (PRS) and LD score regression (LDSC) we analysed the genetic overlap between MDD, neuroticism and SLEs. Results: Past 6-month life events were positively correlated with lifetime MDD status (β=0.21, r 2 =1.1%, p=2.5 x 10 -25 ) and neuroticism (β =0.13, r 2 =1.9%, p=1.04 x 10 -37 ) at the phenotypic level. Common SNPs explained 8% of the phenotypic variance in personal life events (those directly affecting the individual) (S.E.=0.03, p= 9 x 10 -4 ). A significant effect of couple environment was detected accounting for 13% (S.E.=0.03, p=0.016) of the phenotypic variation in SLEs. PRS analyses found that reporting more SLEs was associated with a higher polygenic risk for MDD (β =0.05, r 2 =0.3%, p=3 x 10 -5 ), but not a higher polygenic risk for neuroticism. LDSC showed a significant genetic correlation between SLEs and both MDD (r G =0.33, S.E.=0.08 ) and neuroticism (r G =0.15, S.E.=0.07). Conclusions: These findings suggest that SLEs should not be regarded solely as environmental risk factors for MDD as they are partially heritable and this heritability is shared with risk for MDD and neuroticism. Further work is needed to determine the causal direction and source of these associations.

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  • Experiencing maltreatment in childhood increases the likelihood of exhibiting an unfavourable course of illness, with higher rates of recurrence and persistence in adulthood.

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Authors
Clarke, T.-K., Zeng, Y., Navrady, L., Xia, C., Haley, C., Campbell, A., Navarro, P., Amador, C., Adams, M. J., Howard, D. M., Soler, A., Hayward, C., Thomson, P. A., Smith, B. H., Padmanabhan, S., Hocking, L. J., Hall, L. S., Porteous, D. J., Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Deary, I. J., & McIntosh, A. M.
Affiliations
  • Flinders University (AU)
  • Institute of Genetics and Cancer (GB)
  • Cardiff University (GB)
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
Corresponding author
Clarke, Toni-Kim
Venue
Wellcome Open Research
Published
2018-02-14
Volume
3
Pages
11
ISSN
2398-502X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3148329018
Cited by
16
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 5
FWCI
1.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Wellcome Open Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
  • Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Medical Research Council (MC_PC_U127592696, MC_PC_U127561128)
  • Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
  • Scottish Funding Council (HR03006)
  • Wellcome Trust (104036)
  • Scottish Government Health Directorates (CZD/16/6)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
Keywords
life events, major depressive disorder, neuroticism, heritability, genetic correlation, polygenic risk score, environmental risk factors, family-based genetic analysis

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