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A genetically informed Registered Report on adverse childhood experiences and mental health

Author

Listed:
  • Jessie R. Baldwin

    (University College London
    King’s College London)

  • Hannah M. Sallis

    (University of Bristol
    University of Bristol
    University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol
    University of Bristol)

  • Tabea Schoeler

    (University College London)

  • Mark J. Taylor

    (Karolinska Institutet)

  • Alex S. F. Kwong

    (University of Bristol
    University of Edinburgh)

  • Jorim J. Tielbeek

    (VU University)

  • Wikus Barkhuizen

    (University College London)

  • Varun Warrier

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Laura D. Howe

    (University of Bristol)

  • Andrea Danese

    (King’s College London
    King’s College London
    South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust)

  • Eamon McCrory

    (University College London
    Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families)

  • Fruhling Rijsdijk

    (Anton de Kom University)

  • Henrik Larsson

    (Karolinska Institutet
    Örebro University)

  • Sebastian Lundström

    (University of Gothenburg
    University of Gothenburg)

  • Robert Karlsson

    (Karolinska Institutet)

  • Paul Lichtenstein

    (Karolinska Institutet)

  • Marcus Munafò

    (University of Bristol
    University of Bristol
    University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol)

  • Jean-Baptiste Pingault

    (University College London
    King’s College London)

Abstract

Children who experience adversities have an elevated risk of mental health problems. However, the extent to which adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) cause mental health problems remains unclear, as previous associations may partly reflect genetic confounding. In this Registered Report, we used DNA from 11,407 children from the United Kingdom and the United States to investigate gene–environment correlations and genetic confounding of the associations between ACEs and mental health. Regarding gene–environment correlations, children with higher polygenic scores for mental health problems had a small increase in odds of ACEs. Regarding genetic confounding, elevated risk of mental health problems in children exposed to ACEs was at least partially due to pre-existing genetic risk. However, some ACEs (such as childhood maltreatment and parental mental illness) remained associated with mental health problems independent of genetic confounding. These findings suggest that interventions addressing heritable psychiatric vulnerabilities in children exposed to ACEs may help reduce their risk of mental health problems.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessie R. Baldwin & Hannah M. Sallis & Tabea Schoeler & Mark J. Taylor & Alex S. F. Kwong & Jorim J. Tielbeek & Wikus Barkhuizen & Varun Warrier & Laura D. Howe & Andrea Danese & Eamon McCrory & Fruhl, 2023. "A genetically informed Registered Report on adverse childhood experiences and mental health," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(2), pages 269-290, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:7:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1038_s41562-022-01482-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01482-9
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