TY - JOUR
T1 - A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears
AU - van Houtem, C.M.H.H.
AU - Laine, M.L.
AU - Boomsma, D.I.
AU - Ligthart, L.
AU - van Wijk, A.J.
AU - de Jongh, A.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Evidence from twin studies suggests that genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing a fear or a phobia. The aim of the present study was to review the current literature regarding twin studies describing the genetic basis of specific phobias and their corresponding fears. The analysis included five twin studies on fears and ten twin studies on specific phobias. Heritability estimates of fear subtypes and specific phobia subtypes both varied widely, even within the subtypes. A meta-analysis performed on the twin study results indicated that fears and specific phobias are moderately heritable. The highest mean heritability (±SEM) among fear subtypes was found for animal fear (45%. ±. 0.004), and among specific phobias for the blood-injury-injection phobia (33%. ±. 0.06). For most phenotypes, variance could be explained solely by additive genetic and unique environmental effects. Given the dearth of independent data on the heritability of specific phobias and fears, additional research is needed.
AB - Evidence from twin studies suggests that genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing a fear or a phobia. The aim of the present study was to review the current literature regarding twin studies describing the genetic basis of specific phobias and their corresponding fears. The analysis included five twin studies on fears and ten twin studies on specific phobias. Heritability estimates of fear subtypes and specific phobia subtypes both varied widely, even within the subtypes. A meta-analysis performed on the twin study results indicated that fears and specific phobias are moderately heritable. The highest mean heritability (±SEM) among fear subtypes was found for animal fear (45%. ±. 0.004), and among specific phobias for the blood-injury-injection phobia (33%. ±. 0.06). For most phenotypes, variance could be explained solely by additive genetic and unique environmental effects. Given the dearth of independent data on the heritability of specific phobias and fears, additional research is needed.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84879842852
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84879842852&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.04.007
DO - 10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.04.007
M3 - Article
SN - 0887-6185
VL - 27
SP - 379
EP - 388
JO - Journal of Anxiety Disorders
JF - Journal of Anxiety Disorders
IS - 4
ER -