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Twin study: disinhibition is common thread in youths' behavior problems
A study of teenaged twins indicates that behavioral disinhibition is
highly heritable, and may underlie the often-seen association of attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), early
experimentation with drugs and alcohol, and novelty-seeking
behavior.
Susan Young and colleagues studied 172 monozygotic (identical) and
162 dizygotic (fraternal) twin pairs, using psychiatric interviews and
personality assessments. The researchers found significant associations
among ADHD, CD, novelty-seeking, and early drug use. Young et al.
say their data suggest that a single vulnerability, behavioral disinhibition,
may account for the frequent co-occurrence of these problems. They
estimate the heritability of this trait at .84, which they note is "markedly
higher than the heritabilities for the individual measures."
The common factor among childhood behavior problems, the
researchers conclude, "may be the inability to inhibit behavior, despite its
social undesirability and cascade of familial, educational, psychological,
and possible legal consequences."
(see related articles, Crime Times, 2001, Vol. 7, No. 4, Page 1 and Crime Times, 2001, Vol. 7, No. 4, Page 5.)
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"Genetic and environmental influences on behavioral disinhibition,"
Susan E. Young, Michael C. Stallings, Robin P. Corley, Kenneth S.
Krauter, and John K. Hewitt, American Journal of Medical
Genetics, Vol. 96, 2000, 684-95. Address: Susan E. Young, Institute
for Behavioral Genetics, Campus Box 447, University of Colorado,
Boulder, CO 80309.
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