Genetic and environmental contributions to cannabis dependence in a national young adult twin sample

MT Lynskey; AC Heath; EC Nelson; KK Bucholz; PAF Madden; WS Slutske; DJ Statham; NG Martin

doi:10.1017/S0033291701005062

Genetic and environmental contributions to cannabis dependence in a national young adult twin sample

MT Lynskey^*, AC Heath, EC Nelson, KK Bucholz, PAF Madden, WS Slutske, DJ Statham, NG Martin

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

159 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background. This paper examines genetic and environmental contributions to risk of cannabis dependence.

Method. Symptoms of cannabis dependence and measures of social, family and individual risk factors were assessed in a sample of 6265 young adult male and female Australian twins born 1964-1971.

Results. Symptoms of cannabis dependence were common: 11(.)0% of sample (15(.)1% of men and 7(.)8% of women) reported two or more symptoms of dependence. Correlates of cannabis dependence included educational attainment, exposure to parental conflict, sexual abuse, major depression, social anxiety and childhood conduct disorder. However, even after control for the effects of these factors, there was evidence of significant genetic effects on risk of cannabis dependence. Standard genetic modelling indicated that 44(.)7% (95% CI = 15-72(.)2) of the variance in liability to cannabis dependence could be accounted for by genetic factors, 20(.)1% (95 CI = 0-43(.)6) could be attributed to shared environment factors and 35(.)3% (95% CI = 26(.)4-45(.)7) could be attributed to non-shared environmental factors. However, while there was no evidence of significant gender differences in the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences, a model which assumed both genetic and shared environmental influences on risks of cannabis dependence among men and shared environmental but no genetic influences among women provided an equally good fit to the data.

Conclusions. There was consistent evidence that genetic risk factors are important determinants of risk of cannabis dependence among men. However, it remains uncertain whether there are genetic influences on liability to cannabis dependence among women.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	195-207
Number of pages	13
Journal	Psychological Medicine
Volume	32
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291701005062
Publication status	Published - Feb 2002

Keywords

ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL-DEVELOPMENT
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE
DRUG-USE
12-MONTH PREVALENCE
ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
CONDUCT PROBLEMS
VIRGINIA TWIN
SEXUAL ABUSE
FEMALE TWINS

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1017/S0033291701005062

Cite this

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title = "Genetic and environmental contributions to cannabis dependence in a national young adult twin sample",

abstract = "Background. This paper examines genetic and environmental contributions to risk of cannabis dependence.Method. Symptoms of cannabis dependence and measures of social, family and individual risk factors were assessed in a sample of 6265 young adult male and female Australian twins born 1964-1971.Results. Symptoms of cannabis dependence were common: 11(.)0% of sample (15(.)1% of men and 7(.)8% of women) reported two or more symptoms of dependence. Correlates of cannabis dependence included educational attainment, exposure to parental conflict, sexual abuse, major depression, social anxiety and childhood conduct disorder. However, even after control for the effects of these factors, there was evidence of significant genetic effects on risk of cannabis dependence. Standard genetic modelling indicated that 44(.)7% (95% CI = 15-72(.)2) of the variance in liability to cannabis dependence could be accounted for by genetic factors, 20(.)1% (95 CI = 0-43(.)6) could be attributed to shared environment factors and 35(.)3% (95% CI = 26(.)4-45(.)7) could be attributed to non-shared environmental factors. However, while there was no evidence of significant gender differences in the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences, a model which assumed both genetic and shared environmental influences on risks of cannabis dependence among men and shared environmental but no genetic influences among women provided an equally good fit to the data.Conclusions. There was consistent evidence that genetic risk factors are important determinants of risk of cannabis dependence among men. However, it remains uncertain whether there are genetic influences on liability to cannabis dependence among women.",

keywords = "ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL-DEVELOPMENT, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE, DRUG-USE, 12-MONTH PREVALENCE, ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE, CONDUCT PROBLEMS, VIRGINIA TWIN, SEXUAL ABUSE, FEMALE TWINS",

author = "MT Lynskey and AC Heath and EC Nelson and KK Bucholz and PAF Madden and WS Slutske and DJ Statham and NG Martin",

year = "2002",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1017/S0033291701005062",

language = "English",

volume = "32",

pages = "195--207",

journal = "Psychological Medicine",

issn = "0033-2917",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

number = "2",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Genetic and environmental contributions to cannabis dependence in a national young adult twin sample

AU - Lynskey, MT

AU - Heath, AC

AU - Nelson, EC

AU - Bucholz, KK

AU - Madden, PAF

AU - Slutske, WS

AU - Statham, DJ

AU - Martin, NG

PY - 2002/2

Y1 - 2002/2

N2 - Background. This paper examines genetic and environmental contributions to risk of cannabis dependence.Method. Symptoms of cannabis dependence and measures of social, family and individual risk factors were assessed in a sample of 6265 young adult male and female Australian twins born 1964-1971.Results. Symptoms of cannabis dependence were common: 11(.)0% of sample (15(.)1% of men and 7(.)8% of women) reported two or more symptoms of dependence. Correlates of cannabis dependence included educational attainment, exposure to parental conflict, sexual abuse, major depression, social anxiety and childhood conduct disorder. However, even after control for the effects of these factors, there was evidence of significant genetic effects on risk of cannabis dependence. Standard genetic modelling indicated that 44(.)7% (95% CI = 15-72(.)2) of the variance in liability to cannabis dependence could be accounted for by genetic factors, 20(.)1% (95 CI = 0-43(.)6) could be attributed to shared environment factors and 35(.)3% (95% CI = 26(.)4-45(.)7) could be attributed to non-shared environmental factors. However, while there was no evidence of significant gender differences in the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences, a model which assumed both genetic and shared environmental influences on risks of cannabis dependence among men and shared environmental but no genetic influences among women provided an equally good fit to the data.Conclusions. There was consistent evidence that genetic risk factors are important determinants of risk of cannabis dependence among men. However, it remains uncertain whether there are genetic influences on liability to cannabis dependence among women.

AB - Background. This paper examines genetic and environmental contributions to risk of cannabis dependence.Method. Symptoms of cannabis dependence and measures of social, family and individual risk factors were assessed in a sample of 6265 young adult male and female Australian twins born 1964-1971.Results. Symptoms of cannabis dependence were common: 11(.)0% of sample (15(.)1% of men and 7(.)8% of women) reported two or more symptoms of dependence. Correlates of cannabis dependence included educational attainment, exposure to parental conflict, sexual abuse, major depression, social anxiety and childhood conduct disorder. However, even after control for the effects of these factors, there was evidence of significant genetic effects on risk of cannabis dependence. Standard genetic modelling indicated that 44(.)7% (95% CI = 15-72(.)2) of the variance in liability to cannabis dependence could be accounted for by genetic factors, 20(.)1% (95 CI = 0-43(.)6) could be attributed to shared environment factors and 35(.)3% (95% CI = 26(.)4-45(.)7) could be attributed to non-shared environmental factors. However, while there was no evidence of significant gender differences in the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences, a model which assumed both genetic and shared environmental influences on risks of cannabis dependence among men and shared environmental but no genetic influences among women provided an equally good fit to the data.Conclusions. There was consistent evidence that genetic risk factors are important determinants of risk of cannabis dependence among men. However, it remains uncertain whether there are genetic influences on liability to cannabis dependence among women.

KW - ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL-DEVELOPMENT

KW - SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

KW - POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE

KW - DRUG-USE

KW - 12-MONTH PREVALENCE

KW - ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE

KW - CONDUCT PROBLEMS

KW - VIRGINIA TWIN

KW - SEXUAL ABUSE

KW - FEMALE TWINS

U2 - 10.1017/S0033291701005062

DO - 10.1017/S0033291701005062

M3 - Article

SN - 0033-2917

VL - 32

SP - 195

EP - 207

JO - Psychological Medicine

JF - Psychological Medicine

IS - 2

ER -

Genetic and environmental contributions to cannabis dependence in a national young adult twin sample

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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