The Leiden Family Lab study on Social Anxiety Disorder: A multiplex, multigenerational family study on neurocognitive endophenotypes

• Published in: International journal of methods in psychiatric research Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. e1616 - n/a
• Main Authors: Bas‐Hoogendam, Janna Marie, Harrewijn, Anita, Tissier, Renaud L.M., Molen, Melle J.W., Steenbergen, Henk, Vliet, Irene M., Reichart, Catrien G., Houwing‐Duistermaat, Jeanine J., Slagboom, P. Eline, Wee, Nic J.A., Westenberg, P. Michiel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.06.2018; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Amygdala - diagnostic imaging; Amygdala - physiopathology; Anxiety disorders; Child; Cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction - diagnostic imaging; Cognitive Dysfunction - etiology; Cognitive Dysfunction - genetics; Cognitive Dysfunction - physiopathology; Connectome - methods; Cross-Sectional Studies; EEG; Electroencephalography; Emotions; Endophenotypes; family study; Female; Genotypes; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Mental depression; Middle Aged; MRI; Original; Pedigree; Phenotypes; Phobia, Social - complications; Phobia, Social - diagnostic imaging; Phobia, Social - genetics; Phobia, Social - physiopathology; Prefrontal Cortex - diagnostic imaging; Prefrontal Cortex - physiopathology; Shyness; Social anxiety; social anxiety disorder; Socialization; Structure-function relationships; Young Adult; family study; endophenotypes; MRI; EEG; social anxiety disorder
• ISSN: 1049-8931; 1557-0657; 1557-0657
• DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1616

Objectives Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a serious and prevalent psychiatric condition, with a heritable component. However, little is known about the characteristics that are associated with the genetic component of SAD, the so‐called “endophenotypes”. These endophenotypes could advance our insight in the genetic susceptibility to SAD, as they are on the pathway from genotype to phenotype. The Leiden Family Lab study on Social Anxiety Disorder (LFLSAD) is the first multiplex, multigenerational study aimed to identify neurocognitive endophenotypes of social anxiety. Methods The LFLSAD is characterized by a multidisciplinary approach and encompasses a variety of measurements, including a clinical interview, functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging and an electroencephalography experiment. Participants are family members from 2 generations, from families genetically enriched for SAD. Results The sample (n = 132 participants, from 9 families) was characterized by a high prevalence of SAD, in both generations (prevalence (sub)clinical SAD: 38.3%). Furthermore, (sub)clinical SAD was positively related to self‐reported social anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, trait anxiety, behavioral inhibition, negative affect, and the level of depressive symptoms. Conclusions By the multidimensional character of the measurements and thorough characterization of the sample, the LFLSAD offers unique opportunities to investigate candidate neurocognitive endophenotypes of SAD.