Defining nicotine dependence for genetic research: evidence from Australian twins

C N Lessov; N G Martin; Dixie J Statham; A A Todorov; W S Slutske; K K Bucholz; A C Heath; P A F Madden

doi:10.1017/S0033291703001582

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Defining nicotine dependence for genetic research: evidence from Australian twins

Journal article

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Defining nicotine dependence for genetic research: evidence from Australian twins

C N Lessov, N G Martin, Dixie J Statham, A A Todorov, W S Slutske, K K Bucholz, A C Heath and P A F Madden

Psychological Medicine, Vol.34(5), pp.865-879

2004

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291703001582

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Abstract

Psychology

psychology

psychiatry

substance abuse

twins

drug misuse

adolescent smoking

Background. Whether current criteria used to define nicotine dependence are informative for geneticresearch is an important empirical question. The authors used items of the DSM-IV and of theHeaviness of Smoking Index to characterize the nicotine dependence phenotype and to identifysalient symptoms in a genetically informative community sample of Australian young adult femaleand male twins.Method. Phenotypic and genetic factor analyses were performed on nine dependence symptoms(the seven DSM-IV substance dependence criteria and the two Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI)items derived from the Fagerstro¨m Tolerance Questionnaire, time to first cigarette in the morningand number of cigarettes smoked per day). Phenotypic and genetic analyses were restricted to eversmokers.Results. Phenotypic nicotine dependence symptom covariation was best captured by two factorswith a similar pattern of factor loadings for women and men. In genetic factor analysis item covariationwas best captured by two genetic but one shared environmental factor for both womenand men; however, item factor loadings differed by gender. All nicotine dependence symptomswere substantially heritable, except for the DSM-IV criterion of ‘ giving up or reducing importantactivities in order to smoke’, which was weakly familial.Conclusions. The salient behavioral indices of nicotine dependence are similar for women and men.DSM-IV criteria of tolerance, withdrawal, and experiencing difficulty quitting and HSI items timeto first cigarette in the morning and number of cigarettes smoked per day may represent the mosthighly heritable symptoms of nicotine dependence for both women and men.

Details

Title: Defining nicotine dependence for genetic research: evidence from Australian twins
Authors: C N Lessov (Author) - Washington University, United States
N G Martin (Author) - Queensland Institution of Medical Research
Dixie J Statham (Author) - Queensland Institution of Medical Research
A A Todorov (Author) - Washington University, United States
W S Slutske (Author) - University of Missouri, United States
K K Bucholz (Author) - Washington University, United States
A C Heath (Author) - Washington University
P A F Madden (Author) - Washington University, United States
Publication details: Psychological Medicine, Vol.34(5), pp.865-879
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date published: 2004
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291703001582
ISSN: 0033-2917
Organisation Unit: School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449861102621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Psychiatry; Psychology; Psychology, Clinical

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