Kendler et al (2006) carried out a study to determine the

role that genetics plays in major depressive disorder. You

can use this study for the following content in the biological
approach:

Research methods used in the biological approach.

To what extent does genetic inheritance influence

behaviour?

In addition, you may use it in the abnormal option.

To what extent do biological factors influence abnormal

behaviour? or Evaluate the aetiology of one disorder or
Discuss the prevalence of disorders.

Procedure and results

Kendler and his team wanted to investigate three questions in their study:

1. Past studies suggest a 35 - 45% heritability of major depression. Would this be true in a large Swedish
sample?
2. Are there significant gender differences in the heritability of major depression?
3. Is there evidence that genetic and environmental factors in major depression differ over time?

The sample was made up of 15,493 complete twin pairs listed in the national Swedish Twin Registry. The twins
were born between 1886 and 1958. Only twins whose zygosity could be verified were used in the study.

In order to gather their data, the researchers used a team of trained interviewers to carry out telephone
interviews.  Interviews were carried out between March 1998 and January 2003. The interviewers assessed
lifetime major depression by using modified DSM-IV criteria. 8056 twins met the criteria for a diagnosis of major
depression at some point in their life - and 322 twins voluntarily discussed a history of antidepressant treatment.

In addition to this information, the interviewers also asked questions about the twins "shared environment" - that
is, when they were living in the same household - and their "individual-specific environment" - that is, adult
personal life events that may make members of the twin pair more susceptible to depression.

Correlation of Lifetime Major Depression and Zygosity

Sex and Number of Complete Twin Concordance for Lifetime Major

Zygosity Pairs Depression
Female-Female,
2317 0.44
MZ
Female-Female,
3185 0.16
DZ
Male-Male, MZ 1774 0.31
Male-Male, DZ 2584 0.11
Male-Female, DZ 5633 0.11

The results indicate that the concordance rates for major depression were significantly higher in women than
men. In addition, the correlations were significantly higher in monozygotic than in dizygotic twins. They also found
no correlation between the number of years that the twins had lived together and lifetime major depression. The
estimated heritability of major depression was 0.38, in line with previous research.

There were also no significant differences seen in the roles of genetic and environmental factors in major
depression in the three cohorts spanning birth years 1900-1958. Even when they split the entire cohort into pre
and post World War II, there was no significant difference.
This study suggests both that the heritability of major depression is higher in women than in men and that some
genetic risk factors for major depression are sex-specific. In addition, the study confirms the level of heritability of
major depression found in other studies, strengthening the reliability of European twin studies.

Evaluation

The study is correlational, so no cause and effect relationship can be determined. No particular genes
were isolated and tested in the study.
The study appears to confirm previous research, strengthening the reliability of the findings.
Information about life-events and depressive symptoms was self-reported.  Differences could arise if men
are less reliable in their reporting of lifetime major depression than women.
The interviewers did not officially diagnose the twins and they accepted the diagnoses made by clinicians
when it was reported by the interviewee; as we know, clinical diagnoses are not highly reliable and making
such a diagnosis by telephone may be considered of questionable validity.
The very large sample size taken from a single population helps to mediate some of the concerns above.