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Common genetic contributions to high-risk trauma exposure and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2018

Leah S. Richmond-Rakerd ,
Timothy J. Trull ,
Ian R. Gizer ,
Kristin McLaughlin ,
Emily M. Scheiderer ,
Elliot C. Nelson ,
Arpana Agrawal ,
Michael T. Lynskey ,
Pamela A.F. Madden  and
Andrew C. Heath
...Show all authors
Leah S. Richmond-Rakerd*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
Timothy J. Trull
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
Ian R. Gizer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
Kristin McLaughlin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
Emily M. Scheiderer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA Department of Clinical and Counselling Psychology, NHS Grampian, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen, UK
Elliot C. Nelson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
Arpana Agrawal
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
Michael T. Lynskey
Affiliation:
National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
Pamela A.F. Madden
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
Andrew C. Heath
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
Dixie J. Statham
Affiliation:
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Nicholas G. Martin
Affiliation:
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Leah S. Richmond-Rakerd, E-mail: leah.richmondrakerd@duke.edu
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Abstract

Background

Prior research has documented shared heritable contributions to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal ideation (SI) as well as NSSI and suicide attempt (SA). In addition, trauma exposure has been implicated in risk for NSSI and suicide. Genetically informative studies are needed to determine common sources of liability to all three self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, and to clarify the nature of their associations with traumatic experiences.

Methods

Multivariate biometric modeling was conducted using data from 9526 twins [59% female, mean age = 31.7 years (range 24–42)] from two cohorts of the Australian Twin Registry, some of whom also participated in the Childhood Trauma Study and the Nicotine Addiction Genetics Project.

Results

The prevalences of high-risk trauma exposure (HRT), NSSI, SI, and SA were 24.4, 5.6, 27.1, and 4.6%, respectively. All phenotypes were moderately to highly correlated. Genetic influences on self-injurious thoughts and behaviors and HRT were significant and highly correlated among men [rG = 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.37–0.81)] and women [rG = 0.56 (0.49–0.63)]. Unique environmental influences were modestly correlated in women [rE = 0.23 (0.01–0.45)], suggesting that high-risk trauma may confer some direct risk for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors among females.

Conclusions

Individuals engaging in NSSI are at increased risk for suicide, and common heritable factors contribute to these associations. Preventing trauma exposure may help to mitigate risk for self-harm and suicide, either directly or indirectly via reductions in liability to psychopathology more broadly. In addition, targeting pre-existing vulnerability factors could significantly reduce risk for life-threatening behaviors among those who have experienced trauma.

Keywords

High-risk traumanon-suicidal self-injurysuicidal ideationsuicide attempttwins
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 49 , Issue 3 , February 2019 , pp. 421 - 430
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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