Investigating Irritability as a Potentially Causal Risk Pathway to Depression Using Two Genetically Informed Designs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is heterogeneous, with diverse risk pathways leading to illness. Identifying causal routes to depression helps prioritize targets for early intervention and prevention strategies. Although irritability is associated with risk for later depression, this association could be explained by confounders, including genetic confounders.

Methods

We used two genetically informed designs to examine whether irritability is causally linked to depression. First, using data from the Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS) (N = 16,495) and linked Swedish National Patient Register (NPR), we assessed the relationship between irritability and MDD using the monozygotic twin differences design, which controls for genetic influences. Irr

SUBMITTER: Shakeshaft A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12673388 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature