Genotype–environment correlations: Implications for determining the relationship between environmental exposures and psychiatric illness
By: Jaffee, S. R., & Price, T. S. (2008)
Psychiatry, 7, 496–499
Abstract
Psychological risk factors for psychiatric illness are moderately heritable.
This has two implications
- Individuals actively shape their environments through heritable behaviour
- The relationship between environmental exposure and psychopathology may be confounded by genotype
There are three types of genotype-environment correlation
- Passive
The association between the genotype a child inherits from his or her parents and the environment in which the child is raised. - Evocative (or reactive)
The association between an individual’s genetically influenced behaviour and others’ reactions to that behaviour. - Active (or selective)
The association between an individual’s genetic propensities and the environmental niches that individual selects.
These forms of genotype-environment correlation differ from gene-environment interaction (GxE), which refers to genetic differences in sensitivity to particular environmental effects.
- Genotype-environment correlations explain why individuals have a genetic propensity to engage in sensation-seeking behaviours affiliate with drug-abusing peers.
- GxE explains why heavy drug use is most likely to lead to psychosis only among individuals with a particular genotype.
Evidence from the quantitative genetic literature
Twin and adoption studies demonstrated that putative environmental measures are heritable.
These include many environments that are associated with psychiatric illness, including:
- Marital quality
- Social support
- Parental discipline and warmth
- Family environment
- Peer relationships
- Desirable and undesirable life events
- Divorce
- Exposure to trauma
The weighted heritability of these environments ranges from 6 to 39%, with most ranging from 15 to 35%.
When a study involves child twins reporting their experiences, genetic influences on the putative environment reflect the extent to which the child’s genetic propensities elicit or evoke that experience.
When studies involve samples of adult twins reporting their experiences, genetic influences on the putative environment reflect the extent to which the adult’s genetic propensities modify or create that experience.
Environments are heritable because genotype influences the behaviours that evoke, select, and modify features of the environment.
Environments less amenable to behavioural modification tend to be less heritable.
Evidence from the molecular genetic literature
Molecular studies measure genotype directly.
It may be possible to identify specific genotypes that correlate with environmental variables.
Significant genotype-environment correlations are relatively uncommon.
Implications for disease prevention
The existence of genotype-environment correlation raises two possibilities with implications for the prevention and treatment of psychiatric illness
- The relationship between psychological risk factors and psychiatric outcomes is not causal but confounded by genotype
- Modifying the putative risk environment will have little effect on psychiatric illness
- The relationship between psychological risk factors and psychiatric outcomes is causal
Modifying exposure to the risk environment should reduce levels of psychiatric illness
In some cases, a causal link between psychosocial risk factors and psychiatric outcomes can be established, even if exposure to the risk environment is under genetic influence.
The origins of a risk factor and the mechanism by which its effects are exerted are separable and may be distinct.
There are often reciprocal relationships between psychosocial risk factors and psychiatric outcomes.
Form many disorders, successful treatment will need to be targeted at multiple levels.
Online access to all summaries, study notes en practice exams
- Check out: Register with JoHo WorldSupporter: starting page (EN)
- Check out: Aanmelden bij JoHo WorldSupporter - startpagina (NL)
- Check out: Summaries & Study Assistance - Starting page
Using and finding summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter
There are several ways to navigate the large amount of summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter.
- Starting Pages: for some fields of study and some university curricula editors have created (start) magazines where customised selections of summaries are put together to smoothen navigation. When you have found a magazine of your likings, add that page to your favorites so you can easily go to that starting point directly from your profile during future visits. Below you will find some start magazines per field of study
- Follow authors or (study) organizations: by following individual users, authors and your study organizations you are likely to discover more relevant study materials.
- Search tool: quick & dirty - not very elegant but the fastest way to find a specific summary of a book or study assistance with a specific course or subject. The search tool is available at the bottom of most pages or on the Search & Find page
- Tags & Taxonomy: gives you insight in the amount of summaries that are tagged by authors on specific subjects. This type of navigation can help find summaries that you could have missed when just using the search tools. Tags are organised per field of study and per study institution. Note: not all content is tagged thoroughly, so when this approach doesn't give the results you were looking for, please check the search tool as back up
Do you want to share your summaries with JoHo WorldSupporter and its visitors?
- Check out: Why and how to add a WorldSupporter contributions
- JoHo members: JoHo WorldSupporter members can share content directly and have access to all content: Join JoHo and become a JoHo member
- Non-members: When you are not a member you do not have full access, but if you want to share your own content with others you can fill out the contact form
Quicklinks to fields of study (main tags and taxonomy terms)
Field of study
- Communication & Media sciences
- Corporate & Organizational Sciences
- Cultural Studies & Humanities
- Economy & Economical sciences
- Education & Pedagogic Sciences
- Health & Medical Sciences
- IT & Exact sciences
- Law & Justice
- Nature & Environmental Sciences
- Psychology & Behavioral Sciences
- Public Administration & Social Sciences
- Science & Research
- Technical Sciences
Quick links to WorldSupporter content for universities in the Netherlands
- for free to follow other supporters, see more content and use the tools
- for €10,- by becoming a member to see all content
Je vertrek voorbereiden of je verzekering afsluiten bij studie, stage of onderzoek in het buitenland
Study or work abroad? check your insurance options with The JoHo Foundation
- 1 of 188
- volgende ›
Add new contribution