Publications by authors named "L J Hannigan"
Background: Early in life, behavioral and cognitive traits associated with risk for developing a psychiatric condition are broad and undifferentiated. As children develop, these traits differentiate into characteristic clusters of symptoms and behaviors that ultimately form the basis of diagnostic categories. Understanding this differentiation process - in the context of genetic risk for psychiatric conditions, which is highly generalized - can improve early detection and intervention.
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- A study examined eating problems among adolescents during the pandemic compared to before, using data from 22,706 14-16-year-olds over six years.
- Results indicated that while all adolescents showed an increase in eating problems over time, the pandemic uniquely affected girls, who reported higher levels of dieting and body dissatisfaction during this period.
- The findings emphasize the need to address gender-specific issues related to eating problems and suggest that factors like screen time and mental distress may have worsened during the pandemic.
Article Synopsis
- Childhood and adolescence often see the emergence of mood and anxiety disorders, with overlapping genetic factors potentially influencing emotional and behavioral difficulties.
- The study analyzed data from over 54,000 children in the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort to discern how genetic predispositions (polygenic scores) relate to development patterns of these disorders.
- Results indicated that higher genetic risk correlates with a baseline increase and accelerated progression of behavioral issues, while specific genetic profiles linked uniquely to certain emotional disorders were identified.
Article Synopsis
- Children of less-educated parents show higher rates of depression, anxiety, and ADHD, but it's unclear if this is a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
- A study of nearly 41,000 Norwegian children found no strong evidence that parents' education levels independently impact these mental health traits in their children.
- Instead, children's own genetic factors related to education were linked to mental health traits, suggesting that genetic influences play a larger role than previously thought, while also highlighting the need for studies in more diverse socioeconomic contexts.
Article Synopsis
- * A genome-wide association meta-analysis of nearly 122,000 ANX cases revealed 58 significant genetic variants and 66 related genes, with many of these findings replicated in a larger independent sample.
- * The findings indicate a substantial genetic overlap between ANX and other conditions like depression, emphasizing GABAergic signaling as a key mechanism, thereby enhancing our understanding of the genetic basis of ANX for future research.