Abstract

Previous studies have shown that major depression shares some common genetic vulnerability with alcohol and cannabis dependence. This study was to examine the genetic contribution of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) to the genetic correlations of major depression (MD) with alcohol dependence (AD) and cannabis dependence (CD). Data from 3,360 middle aged male-male monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) complete twin pairs from the Vietnam Era Twin (VET) Registry who participated in a telephone administration of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule Version 3 Revised in 1992 were analyzed. Lifetime ASPD, MD, AD, and CD were diagnosed according to the DSM-III-R. Structural equation modeling showed that genetic influences in ASPD account for 11%, 27% and 23% of the variance in MD, AD, and CD, respectively. After adjusting for the genetic influences of ASPD on AD and CD, the partial correlations of MD with AD and with CD were no longer statistically significant. Significant residual genetic effects on MD, AD and CD also remained (30%, 28% and 37%). Our data suggest that ASPD accounts for the common genetic vulnerability between major depression and alcohol and cannabis dependence, at least in adult men.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)513
Number of pages1
JournalAmerican Journal of Medical Genetics - Neuropsychiatric Genetics
Volume96
Issue number4
StatePublished - Aug 7 2000

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