Dimensions of temperament as vulnerability factors in depression

Abstract

In order to evaluate the hypothesis that one set of genetic risk factors may be common to disorders and dimensions of temperament, whereas environmental risk factors are disorder specific, we have conducted a genetic analysis of dimensions of temperament and symptoms of depression in about 201 pairs of monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Dimensions of temperament associated with novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence, and persistence were measured by using the Temperament and Character Instruments developed by Cloninger, and depressive symptoms were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Differences among individuals on these measures can be explained by differences in their genes and in their environmental experiences. There are no differences between the sexes in gene action affecting temperament. Each dimension of temperament is genetically dependent, and genetic variations in symptoms of depression are largely dependent on the same factors that affect the temperament. Temperament is closely associated with vulnerability to depressive symptoms. Molecular Psychiatry (2002) 7, 948-953.

Genetic variation in MAOA modulates ventromedial prefrontal circuitry mediating individual differences in human personality

“…Epidemiological research shows that personality affects stress resilience, psychosocial adaptation and risk for mental and physical disease. [1][2][3][4] Considerable interest has therefore been directed at uncovering the biological basis of personality. Cloninger proposed an influential operationalization of personality, a tripartite model based hypothetically on neurotransmitter neurobiology with three basic stimulus-response characteristics: Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance and Reward Dependence, measured by the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and thought to be related to dopaminergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission, respectively.…”

Childhood Temperament and Family Environment as Predictors of Internalizing and Externalizing Trajectories From Ages 5 to 17

“…For example, Schwartz, Snidman, and Kagan (1999) found that 61% of the toddlers who avoided novelty displayed anxiety symptoms in adolescence, whereas only 27% of the toddlers who were uninhibited showed anxiety symptoms in adolescence. There is some indication that fear/shyness shares a common genetic liability with depression and anxiety, which may partially explain the predictive effects (Goldsmith & Lemery, 2000;Ono et al, 2002). In addition, numerous studies have linked parental depression with child internalizing behavior (NICHD Early Child Care Research Network, 1999;Spence, Najman, Bor, O'Callaghan, & Williams, 2002).…”

“…The unfolding of adolescent internalizing behavior might begin with the child's exposure at birth to a genetic and an environmental liability (i.e., a depressed parent). The genetic liability may translate into a fearful/shy temperament in early childhood, as there is evidence to suggest a genetic connection between early temperamental fearfulness and later anxiety/depression (Goldsmith & Lemery, 2000;Ono et al, 2002). Mediating processes during later childhood and adolescence might enhance the likelihood that early exposure to maternal depression and temperamental fear/ shyness will result in the expression of internalizing problems during adolescence.…”

Increased anxiety and other similarities in temperament of alcoholics with and without antisocial personality disorder across three diverse populations

“…However, panic disorder and social phobia predict subsequent alcohol problems in adolescents and young adults (Zimmermann et al, 2003). Also, twin studies have demonstrated genetic correlations between HA and internalizing disorders (Ono et al, 2002). Finally, internalizing psychopathology may be a more important predisposing factor in women than men (Dell'Osso et al, 2002;Prescott et al, 1997).…”