Summary

The main aim of the project is to study the relationship between normal personality, pathological personality traits, and personality disorders and symptoms of licit and illicit substance use and use disorders in a population-based twin study. Twin studies are well suited to investigate casual mechanisms. We have previously measured various mental health symptoms in more than 8000 twins. In 2800 of these, DSM-IV mental disorders and personality disorders were assessed using structured interviews. Approximately 10 years later, selected mental disorders including personalitydisorders were re-investigated in 2300  twins. Normal personality and pathological personality traits (according to DSM-5) have also been assessed. We have now enriched the dataset even further, by collecting additional information on licit and illicit substance use and symptoms of use disorders for caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and cannabis and other illicit drugs more than ten years later. In addition to this we identify substance use disorders in the Primary health care and Specialized health services by linking the dataset to the Control and payment of health mergers (KUHR) and to the Norwegian Patient Registry (NPR). The Norwegian Prescription database will be used to identify use and absuse of prescription drugs. Data from the registries at Statistics Norway is providing objective information on demographics, socioeconomic status and psychosocial dysfunction, as well as diagnoses of mental disorders in Connection with sick leave and disability pension. In collaboration with Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics we will apply state-of-the-art genetic epidemiological methods to explore the between normal personality, pathological personality traits and personality disorders and substance initiation and transition to symptoms of substance use disorders. We will also use popu We will also use population-based registry information to evaluate consequences of substance use and use disorders.

See the full project description at Cristin for more information about results, researchers, contact information etc.

Project participants

Project leader

Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud, Avdeling for psykiske lidelser, Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Project participants

Fartein Ask Torvik, Avdeling for psykiske lidelser, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Eivind Ystrøm, Avdeling for psykiske lidelser, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Nikolai Olavi Czajkowski, Avdeling for psykiske lidelser, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Nathan Gillespie, Virginia Commonwealth University
Tom Henrik Rosenström, Avdeling for psykiske lidelser, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Charles Gardener, Virginia Commonwealth University