Exploring the Behavioral and Emotional Manifestation of Polygenic Risk for Psychiatric Disorders Among Schoolchildren - 27/03/26
, Rosa Bosch, PhD c, d, e, María Soler Artigas, PhD a, b, c, f, Judit Cabana-Domínguez, PhD a, b, c, f, Laura Vilar-Ribó, PhD a, b, c, g, Natalia Llonga, MSc a, b, c, f, Lorena Arribas, BSc a, Pau Carabí-Gassol, MSc a, b, c, f, Valeria Macias-Chimborazo, BS a, b, Uxue Zubizarreta-Arruti, BSc a, b, c, f, Mireia Pagerols, PhD c, e, h, Raquel Prat, BSc e, i, Èlia Pagespetit, BSc e, Julia Puigbó, MSc e, Gemma Español-Martín, MD, PhD a, b, c, j, J. Antoni Ramos-Quiroga, MD, PhD a, b, c, j, Miquel Casas, MD, PhD e, j, k, l, Marta Ribasés, PhD a, b, c, fAbstract |
Objective |
We examined the relationships between polygenic risk scores (PRS) for psychiatric disorders and behavioral and emotional problems. In addition, we explored whether these associations differed by sex and conducted mutually adjusted models to elucidate whether different PRS independently contributed to the same outcome.
Method |
Participants included 4,709 individuals 5 to 18 years of age from the Spanish population-based INSchool cohort (mean age = 10.0 years; SD = 3.0, 45% female). PRS for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety were computed using PRScs and PLINK. Behavioral and emotional problems were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Teacher’s Report Form (TRF), the Youth Self-Report (YSR), and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) reported by parents, teachers, and participants. Associations between PRS and behavioral and emotional problems were examined using linear mixed-effects models.
Results |
Of a total of 54 traits, 35 showed significant associations that survived multiple testing correction ( p < 1.54E-04) with at least one PRS for ADHD, ASD, and depression. PRS-ADHD showed the strongest associations with a wide range of behavioral and emotional problems reported by all 3 informants, which was shown to be largely independent of the effects of PRS-ASD and depression. Sex-stratified results revealed certain sex-specific associations, with the PRS-Schizophrenia showing stronger effects among boys compared to girls in parent-reported outcomes.
Conclusion |
Polygenic risk for ADHD and, to a lesser extent, ASD and depression contributed to the expression of behavior and emotional problems among schoolchildren in a transdiagnostic manner, with both broad and specific measures of dimensional psychopathology.
Plain language summary |
In this study, the authors examined the relationships between polygenic risk scores (PRS) for psychiatric disorders and behavioral and emotional problems. Using data from 4,709 children aged 5 to 18, the authors found that polygenic risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and, to a lesser extent, autism and depression, contributed to the expression of behavior and emotional problems among schoolchildren in a transdiagnostic manner, with both broad and specific measures of dimensional psychopathology. Some effects were different between boys and girls; for example, the genetic risk of schizophrenia had a bigger impact on boys. Findings of the study indicate that genetic factors linked to mental health conditions can influence a wide range of emotional and behavioral traits in school-age children, not just specific disorders.
Diversity & Inclusion Statement |
We worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure that the study questionnaires were prepared in an inclusive way. We worked to ensure race, ethnic, and/or other types of diversity in the recruitment of human participants. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. The author list of this paper includes contributors from the location and/or community where the research was conducted who participated in the data collection, design, analysis, and/or interpretation of the work. We actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our author group. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented sexual and/or gender groups in science.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : polygenic scores, psychiatric disorders, schoolchildren, ADHD
Plan
| This work was supported by the Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR, 2017SGR-1461, 2021SGR-00840), the Instituto de Salud Carlos III co-funded by the European Union (PI19/01224, PI20/00041, PI22/00464, PI23/00404, PI24/00195 and FI18/00285 to L.V.R and FI23/00152 to P.C.G), the Network Center for Biomedical Research (CIBER) to J.C.D.; the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); the ECNP Network ‘ADHD across the Lifespan’; “La Marató de TV3” (202228-30 and 202228-31), Fundació ‘la Caixa’, “Diputació de Barcelona, Pla Estratègic de Recerca i Innovació en Salut” (PERISSLT006/17/285); “Fundació Privada d'Investigació Sant Pau” (FISP); and Ministry of Health of Generalitat de Catalunya. SA and MSA acknowledge their Miguel Servet contracts (CP22/00026 and CP22/00128, respectively) awarded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-funded by the European Union Found: Fondo Social Europeo Plus, FSE +. The genotyping service was carried out at the Genotyping Unit-CEGEN in the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. CEGEN is part of the initiative IMPaCTGENóMICA (IMP/00009) cofunded by ISCIII and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). |
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| The research was approved by the ethics committee of the Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron and the Hospital materno-infantil Sant Joan de Déu (Catalonia, Spain). The Department of Health and the Department of Education of Generalitat de Catalunya also approved the project. |
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| This study was presented as a poster in the World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics (WCPG); October 10-14, 2023; Montréal, Canada. |
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| Data Sharing: Raw data from this article are not publicly available because of limitations in ethical approvals, and the summary data will be available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. |
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| María Soler Artigas served as the statistical expert of this research. |
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| The authors are grateful to families, students, and staff of the following public primary schools: Joan Maragall, Mariai Bores, Marquès de la Pobla, Martinet, Pins del Vallès, Puiggraciós, Sant Jordi, Ramon Llull, Rivo Rubeo, Tagamanent and Teresa Berguedà), the following public secondary schools: Angeleta Ferrer i Sensat, Antoni Pous i Argila, Cal Gravat, Duc de Montblanc, Institut del Ter, Jaume Callís, Lacetània, Lluís de Peguera, Molí de la Vila, Montsuar, Pius Font i Quer, Vallbona d’Anoia, and Vil·la Romana, and the following private schools: Airina, L'Ave Maria, Casals – Gràcia, Episcopal Lleida, La Farga, FEDAC Manresa, FEDAC Vic, Garbí Pere Vergés Esplugues, Institució Igualada, Joviat, Oms i de Prat, Pies Mataró, Pureza de María, Regina Carmeli, Sagrats Cors Centelles, La Salle Manlleu, La Salle Manresa, Sant Miquel dels Sants, Thau Barcelona and Vedruna Escorial Vic; who kindly contributed in this research. |
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| Disclosure: J. Antoni Ramos-Quiroga has served on the speakers’ bureau and/or acted as consultant for Biogen, Idorsia, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, Takeda, Bial, Sincrolab, Neuraxpharm, Novartis, BMS, Medice, Rubió, Uriach, Technofarma and Raffo in the last 3 years. He also has received travel awards (air tickets + hotel) for taking part in psychiatric meetings from Idorsia, Janssen-Cilag, Rubió, Takeda, Bial and Medice. The Department of Psychiatry chaired by him received unrestricted educational and research support from the following companies in the last 3 years: Exeltis, Idorsia, Janssen- Cilag, Neuraxpharm, Oryzon, Roche, Probitas, Psious, and Rubió. Gemma Español-Martín has received travel awards for taking part in psychiatric meetings from Idorsia, Rubió and Takeda. Silvia Alemany, Rosa Bosch, María Soler Artigas, Judit Cabana-Domínguez, Laura Vilar-Ribó, Natalia Llonga, Lorena Arribas, Pau Carabí-Gassol, Valeria Macias-Chimborazo, Uxue Zubizarreta-Arruti, Mireia Pagerols, Raquel Prat, Èlia Pagespetit, Júlia Puigbó, Miquel Casas, and Marta Ribasés have reported no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest. |
Vol 65 - N° 4
P. 605-617 - avril 2026 Retour au numéro
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