2-038 - New Directions in Research on (Epi)Gene-Environment Interplay in the Development of Psychopathology

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

This symposium features four studies that provide new insight into the (epi)gene-environment interplay underlying the development of psychopathology. The different studies feature a combination of high-quality longitudinal data, sophisticated analytical approaches, the inclusion of polygenetic and epigenetic data, and novel lab procedures. Study 1 (Van der Storm et al.), uses 6-wave longitudinal data from 523 adolescents, showing that the link from low parental support to social anxiety is moderated by a serotonin-based polygenic index, which works through heightened neuroticism in adolescents. Study 2 (Spencer et al.) examines empathic responses to positive or negative affective images of children in naturalistic contexts with facial electromyography (fEMG) among 81 nulliparous females, and shows that lower methylation levels of oxytocin (OXT) system genes are related to enhanced facial muscle responsiveness—signaling increased empathy towards children. Study 3 (Barker et al.) investigates the birth-to-adolescence links between inflammation-related poly-epigenetic risk scores, environmental exposures, cognitive function and child and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems in 785 mother-child pairs. The study finds evidence for linkages between increased pre- or post-natal methylation of inflammation-related genes and later internalizing and externalizing problems, through specific developmental sequences over time. Finally, study 4 (Van Assche et al.), uses data from 927 adolescents to test whether effect sizes and significance for gene-environment interactions differ by age for different SNPs in the SLCA611 gene. The results from this study suggest that age stratification can indeed be relevant in evaluations of gene-environment interplay, and that the impact of genes may depend on age or sensitive period.

Sub Unit

• Developmental Psychopathology

Chair

• Geertjan Overbeek, University of Amsterdam

Individual Presentations

• Genetically (Dis)Advantaged? Gene-Environment Interaction, Parental Support and Social Anxiety in Adolescence - Presenting Author: Lisa van der Storm, Erasmus University Rotterdam; Non-Presenting Author: Terrence Jorgensen, University of Amsterdam; Non-Presenting Author: Geertjan Overbeek, University of Amsterdam; Non-Presenting Author: Stefanie A. Nelemans, Utrecht University; Non-Presenting Author: Marco Boks, Utrecht University; Non-Presenting Author: Wim Meeus, Utrecht University; Non-Presenting Author: Susan Branje, Utrecht University

• Oxytocin System Gene Methylation Modulates Empathic Responses to Emotionally Salient Images of Children - Presenting Author: Hannah Spencer, University of Amsterdam; Non-Presenting Author: Franca Parianen-Leseman, Utrecht University; Non-Presenting Author: Eline Kraaijenvanger, Utrecht University; Non-Presenting Author: Yuyije He, Utrecht University Medical Center; Non-Presenting Author: Estrella Montoya, Utrecht University; Non-Presenting Author: Susan Branje, Utrecht University; Non-Presenting Author: Marco Boks, Utrecht University; Non-Presenting Author: Peter Bos, Utrecht University

• Inflammation-related Epigenetic Risk, Neurocognitive Function and Child and Adolescent Externalising and Internalising Problems - Presenting Author: Edward Dylan Barker, King's College London; Non-Presenting Author: Cecil Charlotte, King's College London; Non-Presenting Author: Esther Walton, University of Bristol; Non-Presenting Author: Sara Jaffee, University of Pennsylvania; Non-Presenting Author: Thomas O'Connor, University of Rochester

• Does Age make a Difference in Testing Gene-Environment Interactions - Presenting Author: Evelien Van Assche, KU Leuven, University; Non-Presenting Author: Tim Moons, Leuven University; Non-Presenting Author: Luc Goossens, KU Leuven; Non-Presenting Author: Stephan Claes, KU Leuven