Finding gene-environment interactions for anxiety

Epidemiological studies suggest that anxiety is one of the commonest categories of mental disorder. Information about the aetiology of anxiety disorders in the DSM IV tends to be simplistic, with the general suggestion that disorders run in families, for instance. In order to understand better the development of anxiety, this article discusses recent work investigating gene-environment interactions. For example, some researchers have now reported that individuals with certain genotypes are more sensitive to environmental stressors when compared with other people, and are therefore more likely to develop anxiety when specific stressors occur. There is a paucity of studies of gene-environment interaction concerning anxiety, so suggestions are made with regard to considerations when planning future investigations. Considerations focus on issues concerning defining and measuring anxiety, addressing co-morbidity, selecting candidate genetic and environmental influences, distinguishing between the sexes and those at different developmental stages, and assessing intermediate processes. It is hoped that further knowledge regarding the aetiology of anxiety disorders will eventually be useful for identifying those at risk of developing these disorders and will allow the use of interventions to reduce the chances of these difficulties occurring.