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Genetic risk variants for social anxiety
Murray B Stein1,2,3, Chia-Yen Chen4,5, Sonia Jain2
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.
Summary
This study identified genetic risk variants for social anxiety, confirming its heritable basis. Social anxiety is genetically linked to extraversion, suggesting shared genetic influences.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatric Genetics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Social anxiety is a neurobehavioral trait with a known heritable component, often associated with neuroticism and extraversion.
- Previous genetic studies have not identified robust risk variants for social anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based heritability of social anxiety.
- To identify genetic risk loci associated with social anxiety.
- To investigate shared genetic risks between social anxiety, neuroticism, and extraversion.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was performed on participants in the Army Study To Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS).
- Analyses were conducted within European (EUR), African (AFR), and Hispanic/Latino (LAT) ancestral groups.
- Meta-analysis across studies was performed to identify genomewide significant loci and genetic correlations.
Main Results:
- Significant SNP-based heritability for social anxiety was observed in European samples (h²g = 0.12, P = 2.17 × 10⁻⁴).
- One genomewide significant locus was identified in both EUR (rs708012) and AFR (rs78924501) samples.
- Social anxiety showed a significant negative genetic correlation with extraversion (rg = -0.52, P = 0.02) but not with neuroticism or an anxiety disorder factor.
Conclusions:
- This first GWAS of social anxiety confirms a significant genetic basis for the trait.
- Genetic risk for social anxiety is shared with extraversion, indicating overlapping genetic underpinnings.
- The genetic overlap with neuroticism appears less substantial compared to extraversion.
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