Abstract
This study illustrates the application of a latent modeling approach to genotype–phenotype relationships and gene × environment
interactions, using a novel, multidimensional model of adult female problem behavior, including maternal prenatal smoking.
The gene of interest is the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene which has been well studied in relation to antisocial behavior. Participants were adult women (N = 192) who were sampled from a prospective pregnancy cohort of non-Hispanic, white individuals recruited from a neighborhood
health clinic. Structural equation modeling was used to model a female problem behavior phenotype, which included conduct
problems, substance use, impulsive-sensation seeking, interpersonal aggression, and prenatal smoking. All of the female problem
behavior dimensions clustered together strongly, with the exception of prenatal smoking. A main effect of MAOA genotype and a MAOA × physical maltreatment interaction were detected with the Conduct Problems factor. Our phenotypic model showed that prenatal
smoking is not simply a marker of other maternal problem behaviors. The risk variant in the MAOA main effect and interaction analyses was the high activity MAOA genotype, which is discrepant from consensus findings in male samples. This result contributes to an emerging literature
on sex-specific interaction effects for MAOA.
interactions, using a novel, multidimensional model of adult female problem behavior, including maternal prenatal smoking.
The gene of interest is the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene which has been well studied in relation to antisocial behavior. Participants were adult women (N = 192) who were sampled from a prospective pregnancy cohort of non-Hispanic, white individuals recruited from a neighborhood
health clinic. Structural equation modeling was used to model a female problem behavior phenotype, which included conduct
problems, substance use, impulsive-sensation seeking, interpersonal aggression, and prenatal smoking. All of the female problem
behavior dimensions clustered together strongly, with the exception of prenatal smoking. A main effect of MAOA genotype and a MAOA × physical maltreatment interaction were detected with the Conduct Problems factor. Our phenotypic model showed that prenatal
smoking is not simply a marker of other maternal problem behaviors. The risk variant in the MAOA main effect and interaction analyses was the high activity MAOA genotype, which is discrepant from consensus findings in male samples. This result contributes to an emerging literature
on sex-specific interaction effects for MAOA.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s00737-012-0286-y
- Authors
- L. M. McGrath, Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Simches Research Building 6th floor, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- B. Mustanski, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- A. Metzger, Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
- D. S. Pine, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- E. Kistner-Griffin, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- E. Cook, Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Juvenile Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- L. S. Wakschlag, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Journal Archives of Women’s Mental Health
- Online ISSN 1435-1102
- Print ISSN 1434-1816