GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON SCHIZOTYPY AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN TAIWAN: A MULTIVARIATE TWIN/SIBLING ANALYSIS
Resource
BEHAVIOR GENETICS v.37 n.2 pp.334-344
Journal
BEHAVIOR GENETICS
Journal Volume
v.37
Journal Issue
n.2
Pages
334-344
Date Issued
2007
Date
2007
Author(s)
LIN, CHAUCER C. H.
SU, CHIU-HSIA
KUO, PO-HSIU
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the relative contribution of
genes and environment to psychometrically measured
schizotypy and the causes for the covariation between
different dimensions of schizotypy in a total of 330 pairs
of twins and 36 same-sex sib-pairs aged 12-16 and
systematically recruited from junior high schools in Taipei.
Twins' zygosity was determined by a combination of DNA
typing and physical similarity. Schizotypy was measured
using the Perceptual Aberration Scale (PAS) as well as the
Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and its three
factors (Cognitive-perceptual Dysfunction, Disorganization,
and Interpersonal Dysfunction). Univariate analyses of
structural equation modeling using Mx program showed that
scores on these schizotypal measures were substantially
heritable (h(2) ranging from 41 to 49%), with some genetic
effects being non-additive. Multivariate analyses revealed
common genetic factors linking between various traits of
schizotypy, with bivariate heritability ranging from 50 to
65%. The proportion of the genetic contributions not shared
with the other measures of schizotypy ranged from 24% for
the Disorganization to 49% for the PAS scores. We concluded
that there exist both common and specific genetic factors
between the various dimensions of schizotypy, and at least
half of their correlations were genetic in nature.
Subjects
heritability
schizotypy
twins
adolescents
structural equation modeling
Type
journal article