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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice

Published on: July 12, 2024

Environmental adversity and increasing genetic risk for externalizing disorders.

Brian M Hicks¹, Susan C South, Ana C Dirago

¹Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 E River Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. hicks013@umn.edu

Archives of General Psychiatry

|June 3, 2009

Summary

Genetic factors significantly influence externalizing disorders, especially amid environmental adversity. Greater adversity amplifies genetic risk, suggesting a general environmental mechanism impacting psychopathology.

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Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Behavioral Genetics
Developmental Psychology

Background:

Gene-environment interplay is crucial for understanding psychiatric and substance use disorders.
Limited research integrates findings on general mechanisms of gene-environment influence in psychopathology.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify patterns of gene-environment interplay between externalizing disorders (antisocial behavior and substance use) and environmental risk factors.
To examine how genetic and environmental risk for externalizing disorders changes with environmental context.

Main Methods:

Quantitative genetic models were employed.
The study involved 1315 male and female twin pairs from the Minnesota Twin Family Study at age 17.
Externalizing disorders and six environmental risk factors were assessed using multiple measures and informants.

Main Results:

A significant gene x environment interaction was found for each environmental risk factor and externalizing disorders.
Increased environmental adversity was associated with heightened genetic risk for externalizing disorders.

Conclusions:

Genetic factors play a more significant role in the etiology of externalizing disorders when individuals experience environmental adversity.
The findings suggest a general mechanism of environmental influence on externalizing disorders, irrespective of the specific environmental risk involved.