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The Successive Alleys Test of Anxiety in Mice and Rats
Published on: June 17, 2013
Longitudinal genetic analysis of anxiety sensitivity
Helena M S Zavos1, Alice M Gregory, Thalia C Eley
1Social, Genetic, & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London. Helena.zavos@kcl.ac.uk
Developmental Psychology
|August 17, 2011
Summary
Genetic factors influence anxiety sensitivity stability throughout adolescence. While early genetic influences persist, new genetic factors and time-specific environmental influences emerge over time.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Genetics
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Anxiety sensitivity is linked to anxiety and depression and is heritable.
- Understanding genetic influences on anxiety sensitivity over time is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the stability of anxiety sensitivity during adolescence.
- To investigate the role of genetic and environmental factors in anxiety sensitivity changes over time using a genetically sensitive design.
Main Methods:
- Utilized self-reports of anxiety sensitivity from over 1,300 twin and sibling pairs across 3 time points.
- Employed multivariate genetic models to analyze the data.
- Examined both time-specific and stable genetic and environmental influences.
Main Results:
- Anxiety sensitivity demonstrated moderate heritability at all time points, with significant nonshared environmental contributions.
- Genetic factors from Time 1 influenced symptom continuity at Times 2 and 3.
- New genetic factors at Time 2 and novel nonshared environmental influences at each time point were identified.
- Analysis revealed stable nonshared environmental influences on trait anxiety sensitivity.
- Genetic effects were largely stable, with new influences appearing in late adolescence, while environmental influences were mostly time-specific.
Conclusions:
- Genetic factors play a significant role in the continuity and change of anxiety sensitivity during adolescence.
- Both stable and time-specific genetic and environmental factors contribute to anxiety sensitivity development.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay of genetic and environmental influences on anxiety sensitivity over time.
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