Obsessive-compulsive disorder, tics and anxiety in 6-year-old twins.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous reports of genetic influences on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms have suggested moderate heritability. Family history studies of co-morbidity have found familial aggregation with tics, especially for early-onset OCD, and familial aggregation with anxiety disorders. METHOD: Heritability of OCD and familial aggregation of OCD, tics and anxiety disorders were investigated in a community sample of 6-year-old twins using a two-phase design in which 4662 twin pairs were sampled and 854 pairs were assessed in the second phase by maternal-informant diagnostic interview using DSM-IV criteria. RESULTS: In the multivariate model combined additive genetic and common environmental effects were estimated as 47% for sub-threshold OCD, and the model was unable to distinguish these sources of familial aggregation. There were strong familial aggregations between sub-threshold OCD and tics and between sub-threshold OCD and other anxiety disorders (80% and 97% respectively), although again specific sources could not be distinguished. CONCLUSIONS: The findings are consistent with the hypothesis of a tic-related early-onset OCD phenotype, but also with the hypothesis of an anxiety-related early-onset OCD phenotype.

Author information

Author/s: Bolton, Derek (D); Rijsdijk, Frühling (F); O'Connor, Thomas G (TG); Perrin, Sean (S); Eley, Thalia C (TC);

Affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, UK. d.bolton(-atsign-)iop.kcl.ac.uk

Grants: 056163 (Agency:Wellcome Trust)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Twin Study

Journal: Psychological medicine (Psychol Med), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jan; vol 37 (issue 1) : pp 39-48

Dates: Created 2007/01/04; Completed 2007/11/13;

PMID: 16999878, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

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