Biol Psychiatry. 2026 Mar 31:S0006-3223(26)01130-3. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2026.03.1000. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Childhood trauma is a well-known environmental risk factor for psychiatric disorders, yet genetic influences may also shape exposure to adversity via gene-environment correlation (rGE).
METHODS AND MATERIALS: We examined rGE between polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for psychiatric and behavioural traits and trauma subtypes across development in two large cohorts: the EU-GEI case control study (N = 1,191) and the ALSPAC birth cohort (N = 8,141). Trauma was assessed retrospectively in EU-GEI and both prospectively and retrospectively in ALSPAC. Multinomial logistic regressions tested associations between PRSs and timing of exposure (early 0-11 years vs. late 12-17 years) to five trauma types (emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, bullying, and household discord).
RESULTS: In EU-GEI, 20 PRS-trauma associations survived FDR correction. The PTSD PRS showed strong associations with early emotional abuse (OR = 3.37), sexual abuse (OR = 3.08), physical abuse (OR = 2.90), and bullying (OR = 2.19). ADHD PRS was linked to early sexual abuse (OR = 1.49), emotional abuse (OR = 1.33), household discord (OR = 1.27), and bullying (OR = 1.24). Schizophrenia PRS was associated with early emotional abuse (OR = 1.90) and late bullying (OR = 1.46). In ALSPAC, 20 PRS-trauma associations were replicated, including ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and CUD with early traumas. Variance explained was small in both cohorts. Sensitivity analyses restricting to controls in EU-GEI confirmed results.
DISCUSSION: These findings provide novel and robust evidence for rGE between psychiatric PRSs and specific trauma exposures, particularly in early development, underscoring the importance of incorporating genetic liability in trauma research.
PMID:41933711 | DOI:10.1016/j.biopsych.2026.03.1000
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