A major role for common genetic variation in anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are common, complex psychiatric disorders with twin heritabilities of 30–60%. We conducted a genome-wide association study of Lifetime Anxiety Disorder (ncase = 25 453, ncontrol = 58 113) and an additional analysis of Current Anxiety Symptoms (ncase = 19 012, ncontrol = 58 113). The liability scale common variant heritability estimate for Lifetime Anxiety Disorder was 26%, and for Current Anxiety Symptoms was 31%. Five novel genome-wide significant loci were identified including an intergenic region on chromosome 9 that has previously been associated with neuroticism, and a locus overlapping the BDNF receptor gene, NTRK2. Anxiety showed significant positive genetic correlations with…

• FF
  Foundation for the National Institutes of Health

  Award: R01 MH113665
• AV
  Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
• MC
  Maudsley Charity

  Award: TR130505
• NI
  National Institute for Health and Care Research
• KC
  King's College London
• L
  Lundbeckfonden

  Awards: R155-2014-1724, R102-A9118
• NN
  Novo Nordisk
• HL
  H. Lundbeck A/S
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: MR/M021475/1
• MR
  Medical Research Council

  Awards: MR/M021475, MR/M021475/1, MR/M021475/1, 1668713
• NI
  National Institute of Mental Health

  Awards: MH109514, U01 MH109514