Abstract
Background. DSM-IV specifies a hierarchal diagnostic structure such that an oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) diagnosis is applied only if criteria are not met for conduct disorder (CD). Genetic studies of ODD and CD support a combination of shared genetic and environmental influences but largely ignore the imposed diagnostic structure. Method. We examined whether ODD and CD share an underlying etiology while accounting for DSM-IV diagnostic specifications. Data from 1446 female twin pairs, aged 11-19 years, were fitted to two-stage models adhering to the DSM-IV diagnostic hierarchy. Results. The models suggested that DSM-IV ODD-CD covariation is attributed largely to shared genetic influences. Conclusions. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to examine genetic and environmental overlap among these disorders while maintaining a DSM-IV hierarchical structure. The findings reflect primarily shared genetic influences and specific (i.e. uncorrelated) shared/familial environmental effects on these DSM-IV-defined behaviors. These results have implications for how best to define CD and ODD for future genetically informed analyses.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1053-1064 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Psychological medicine |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2014 |
Keywords
- Adolescence
- conduct disorder
- genetics
- oppositional defiant disorder
- twins