We propose to study the genetic and environmental factor structure of the personality dimensions of novelty seeking, harm avoidance and reward dependence. These dimensions are of clinical importance because of their relationship to categories of personality disorder, to the differentiation of somatic and cognitive anxiety, and to the etiology of subtypes of alcohol abuse. The personality theory described by Cloninger leads to a number of strong predictions. For example, it is predicted that genetic correlations between the observed scores on these personality dimension will be zero, while there will be predictable environmental correlations between the personality dimensions. We will collect data from 2000 pairs of twins from a population based register using Cloninger's Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) together with measure of somatic and cognitive anxiety and of alcohol use and abuse. This will provide the first test of the genetic and environmental predictions. We will carry out a full multivariate genetic analysis of the items of the TPQ to establish whether the sales are measuring unitary genetic factors. We will determine the optimum scale composition for measuring an individual's genetic disposition to novelty seeking, harm avoidance and reward dependence. We will collect data on an additional 1700 adult males who will have been previously interviewed at home for a wide ranging psychiatric assessment including alcohol abuse. These data will provide validation for the questionnaire assessment of alcohol abuse, and independent tests of the phenotype relationships between the personality variables and subtypes of alcohol abuse. The techniques we are proposing are relatively new to clinical biology. Their wider use is restricted largely by the computational demands of multivariate genetic modelling when large numbers of variables are involved, for example when items from a questionnaire like the TPQ are to be analyzed. We propose to use this project as an opportunity to develop and refine the numerical optimization procedures necessary for multivariate genetic analysis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01AA008672-01
Application #
3112823
Study Section
Epidemiologic and Services Research Review Committee (EPS)
Project Start
1990-01-01
Project End
1993-12-31
Budget Start
1990-01-01
Budget End
1990-12-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Virginia Commonwealth University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Richmond
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
23298
Heiman, Noa; Stallings, Michael C; Hofer, Scott M et al. (2003) Investigating age differences in the genetic and environmental structure of the tridimensional personality questionnaire in later adulthood. Behav Genet 33:171-80
Stallings, M C; Hewitt, J K; Beresford, T et al. (1999) A twin study of drinking and smoking onset and latencies from first use to regular use. Behav Genet 29:409-21
Miles, D R; Stallings, M C; Young, S E et al. (1998) A family history and direct interview study of the familial aggregation of substance abuse: the adolescent substance abuse study. Drug Alcohol Depend 49:105-14
Stallings, M C; Cherny, S S; Young, S E et al. (1997) The familial aggregation of depressive symptoms, antisocial behavior, and alcohol abuse. Am J Med Genet 74:183-91
Stallings, M C; Hewitt, J K; Cloninger, C R et al. (1996) Genetic and environmental structure of the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire: three or four temperament dimensions? J Pers Soc Psychol 70:127-40
Prescott, C A; Hewitt, J K; Truett, K R et al. (1994) Genetic and environmental influences on lifetime alcohol-related problems in a volunteer sample of older twins. J Stud Alcohol 55:184-202
Prescott, C A; Hewitt, J K; Heath, A C et al. (1994) Environmental and genetic influences on alcohol use in a volunteer sample of older twins. J Stud Alcohol 55:18-33
Silberg, J L; Erickson, M T; Meyer, J M et al. (1994) The application of structural equation modeling to maternal ratings of twins' behavioral and emotional problems. J Consult Clin Psychol 62:510-21
Perusse, D; Neale, M C; Heath, A C et al. (1994) Human parental behavior: evidence for genetic influence and potential implication for gene-culture transmission. Behav Genet 24:327-35
Neale, M C; Eaves, L J (1993) Estimating and controlling for the effects of volunteer bias with pairs of relatives. Behav Genet 23:271-7

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