Oxford Text pg 288-294

eitology

a set of causes of a disease or condition

Falconer model

1 = genetic inheritance + shared environment + individual enviornment

phenotype

observed characteristics such as the presence of symptoms of MDD

Sullivan, Neale, and Kendler (2000)

major depression disorder is complex and results from a combination of genetic and environmental influences

Kendler et al (2006)

Swedish national twin study of MDD, women are ore genetically predisposed

gene-environment interaction (GxE)

two different genotypes respond to the same environment in different ways

Silberg et al (1999)

studied reasons for different heritabilities of MDD between males and females; found genetic predisposition causes girls at young age to be more vulnerable to stressful events

molecular genetics

identifying specific genes influencing complex psychological disorders

Caspi et al (2003)

found a functional polymorphism in a serotonin transporter gene modified the influence of stressful life events on depression

Chiao and Blizinsky (2015)

proposed the culture-gene coevolution theory; examined association between frequency of allele variations and cultural values of individualism/collectivism, collectivism evolved as a means of encouraging social social support

culture-gene coevolution theory

cultural values buffer genetically susceptible populations from increased prevalence of affective and mood disorders

serotonin hypothesis

low levels of serotonin play a causal role in developing MOD

treatment etiology fallacy

treatment X (which targets chemical Y) reduces symptoms of depression, therefore, chemical Y causes depression