Investigating the Role of Salivary Cortisol on Vocal Symptoms.

Purpose: We investigated whether participants who reported more often occurring vocal symptoms showed higher salivary cortisol levels and if such possible associations were different for men and women. Method: The participants (N = 170; men n = 49, women n = 121) consisted of a population-based sample of Finnish twins born between 1961 and 1989. The participants submitted saliva samples for hormone analysis and completed a web questionnaire including questions regarding the occurrence of 6 vocal symptoms during the past 12 months. The data were analyzed using the generalized estimated equations method. Results: A composite variable of the vocal symptoms showed a significant positive association with salivary cortisol levels (p < .001). Three of the 6 vocal symptoms were significantly associated with the level of cortisol when analyzed separately (p values less than .05). The results showed no gender difference regarding the effect of salivary cortisol on vocal symptoms. Conclusions: There was a positive association between the occurrence of vocal symptoms and salivary cortisol levels. Participants with higher cortisol levels reported more often occurring vocal symptoms. This could have a connection to the influence of stress on vocal symptoms because stress is a known risk factor of vocal symptoms and salivary cortisol can be seen as a biomarker for stress.

Associations Between Vocal Symptoms and Genetic Variants in the Oxytocin Receptor and Arginine Vasopressin 1A Receptor Gene.

Purpose: Oxytocin and arginine vasopressin are associated with different aspects of the stress response. As stress is regarded as a risk factor for vocal symptoms, we wanted to explore the association between the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and arginine vasopressin 1A receptor gene (AVPR1A) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and vocal symptoms. We also wanted to explore whether such effects might be mediated by cortisol because oxytocin and vasopressin are associated with cortisol levels. Method: A population-based sample (N = 657) of Finnish twins (born 1961-1989) completed a web questionnaire on the occurrence of vocal symptoms. A total of 170 participants submitted saliva samples for hormone analysis. A total of 20 OXTR and AVPR1A SNPs were analyzed. Results: Three OXTR polymorphisms (rs2270465, rs2268493, rs7632287) and 2 AVPR1A polymorphisms (rs1587097, rs1042615) showed nominal effects (p < .05) on vocal symptoms, of which 1 (rs1587097) remained significant after correcting for multiple testing (p = .003). We found potential mediation of the effect of the OXTR rs2268493 polymorphism on vocal symptoms through levels of cortisol. Conclusions: The associations between variants of OXTR and AVPR1A and vocal symptoms indicate that oxytocin and vasopressin might influence vocal symptoms. The effect of oxytocin seems to be partly mediated through cortisol actions.

Genetic variation of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor gene is associated with alcohol use disorders identification test scores and smoking.

The multifaceted gut-brain peptide ghrelin and its receptor (GHSR-1a) are implicated in mechanisms regulating not only the energy balance but also the reward circuitry. In our pre-clinical models, we have shown that ghrelin increases whereas GHSR-1a antagonists decrease alcohol consumption and the motivation to consume alcohol in rodents. Moreover, ghrelin signaling is required for the rewarding properties of addictive drugs including alcohol and nicotine in rodents. Given the hereditary component underlying addictive behaviors and disorders, we sought to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the pre-proghrelin gene (GHRL) and GHSR-1a gene (GHSR) are associated with alcohol use, measured by the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) and smoking. Two SNPs located in GHRL, rs4684677 (Gln90Leu) and rs696217 (Leu72Met), and one in GHSR, rs2948694, were genotyped in a subset (n = 4161) of a Finnish population-based cohort, the Genetics of Sexuality and Aggression project. The effect of these SNPs on AUDIT scores and smoking was investigated using linear and logistic regressions, respectively. We found that the minor allele of the rs2948694 SNP was nominally associated with higher AUDIT scores (P = 0.0204, recessive model) and smoking (P = 0.0002, dominant model). Furthermore, post hoc analyses showed that this risk allele was also associated with increased likelihood of having high level of alcohol problems as determined by AUDIT scores ≥ 16 (P = 0.0043, recessive model). These convergent findings lend further support for the hypothesized involvement of ghrelin signaling in addictive disorders.

[Development of substance use disorders can be prevented]. / Päihdehäiriöiden kehittymistä voidaan ehkäistä.

The first experiments with intoxicants take place in early adolescence, and the drug use habits become established during adolescence. In addition to an early start of substance abuse and adolescent drug problems, especially ADHD and behavior disorders predispose to subsequent substance use disorders. Prevention and effective treatment of these disturbances can decrease the risk of subsequent development of substance use disorders. Drug policy decisions are applied to influence the availability of alcohol. Early and adequate interventions in adolescent drug abuse may prevent the development of symptoms into a disorder among the young at risk.

The Genetics of Sexuality and Aggression (GSA) twin samples in Finland.

The Genetics of Sexuality and Aggression (GSA) project was launched at the Abo Akademi University in Turku, Finland in 2005 and has so far undertaken two major population-based data collections involving twins and siblings of twins. To date, it consists of about 14,000 individuals (including 1,147 informative monozygotic twin pairs, 1,042 informative same-sex dizygotic twin pairs, 741 informative opposite-sex dizygotic twin pairs). Participants have been recruited through the Central Population Registry of Finland and were 18-49 years of age at the time of the data collections. Saliva samples for DNA genotyping (n = 4,278) and testosterone analyses (n = 1,168) were collected in 2006. The primary focus of the data collections has been on sexuality (both sexual functioning and sexual behavior) and aggressive behavior. This paper provides an overview of the data collections as well as an outline of the phenotypes and biological data assembled within the project. A detailed overview of publications can be found at the project's Web site: http://www.cebg.fi/.

Changes in the prevalence of child sexual abuse, its risk factors, and their associations as a function of age cohort in a Finnish population sample.

OBJECTIVE: We examined (1) the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) experiences as a function of cohort and gender, (2) the prevalence of factors associated with CSA as a function of cohort and whether the association of these factors with CSA remained the same irrespective of cohort, and (3) whether any cohort differences could be explainable by cohort differences in reporting bias. METHOD: We used the responses of 4,561 men (M=29, SD=7 years) and 8,361 female (M=29, SD=7 years) Finnish participants who responded to the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form as well as questions regarding family structure. RESULTS: The prevalence of CSA experiences varied between 0.7-4.6% for men and 1.8-7.5% for women depending on the item. Younger cohorts reported less CSA as well as less of the risk factors (physical neglect and abuse, emotional neglect and abuse, parental substances abuse, not growing up with both biological parents) that were positively associated with the likelihood of CSA. The effects of these risk factors did not vary as a function of the cohort. Also, the declining trend was not explainable by social desirability being higher in the younger cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that there is a real decline in the prevalence of CSA and it is associated with a simultaneous decline in factors associated with CSA.

Genetic effects on anger control and their interaction with alcohol intoxication: a self-report study.

Individual differences in anger control are important to consider when trying to understand intoxicated aggression (Parrott and Giancola, 2004). We explored, first, genetic and environmental effects on anger control both in self-reported sober and alcohol intoxicated states, and whether the same genetic and environmental effects influence it in both these states, and second, a possible interaction between genetic effects and alcohol in the control of anger. In the population based sample (N=8964) of Finnish twins (18-33 years) and their siblings (18 years or older), genetic effects on anger control were found both for the self-reported sober (27% for men, 34% for women) and alcohol intoxicated states (29% for men, 37% for women), with high genetic correlations (from .77 to .85) between these states. Genetic effects (26% for men, 29% for women) were also found for the difference in anger control between the self-reported sober and alcohol intoxicated states, suggesting the effect of alcohol on anger control depends on the genotype of the individual.

Childhood sexual interactions with other children are associated with lower preferred age of sexual partners including sexual interest in children in adulthood.

Associations between childhood sexual interactions with other children, and preferred and actual age of sexual partners, as well as adults' sexual interest in children, were explored in a sample of 1312 Finnish male twins. Experience of sexual interaction with other children was associated with lower minimum age of preferred and actual sexual partners in adulthood. In addition, such interactions were connected to an increased likelihood of adults' sexual interest in children under the age of 16 years. None of the participants who reported no such interactions had sexual interest in children in adulthood. In addition, the presence of a female co-twin was associated with higher levels of childhood sexual interactions and lower minimum age of preferred and actual sexual partners. Finally, the extent of childhood sexual interactions was not affected by genetic factors, suggesting that the identified association represents true environmental causation. Experiences of childhood physical and sexual abuse were positively related to the extent of the childhood sexual interactions with other children. The results support the role of conditioning in the development of sexual age preferences.

Common genetic effects of gender atypical behavior in childhood and sexual orientation in adulthood: a study of Finnish twins.

The existence of genetic effects on gender atypical behavior in childhood and sexual orientation in adulthood and the overlap between these effects were studied in a population-based sample of 3,261 Finnish twins aged 33-43 years. The participants completed items on recalled childhood behavior and on same-sex sexual interest and behavior, which were combined into a childhood gender atypical behavior and a sexual orientation variable, respectively. The phenotypic association between the two variables was stronger for men than for women. Quantitative genetic analyses showed that variation in both childhood gender atypical behavior and adult sexual orientation was partly due to genetics, with the rest being explained by nonshared environmental effects. Bivariate analyses suggested that substantial common genetic and modest common nonshared environmental correlations underlie the co-occurrence of the two variables. The results were discussed in light of previous research and possible implications for theories of gender role development and sexual orientation.

Subjectively measured ejaculation latency time and its association with different sexual activities while controlling for age and relationship length.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, attempts to formulate valid and suitable definitions for (different subcategories of) premature ejaculation have resulted in substantial progress in the pursuit to gain knowledge about ejaculatory function. However, the association between ejaculatory dysfunction and different types of sexual activities has yet to be thoroughly investigated, and (due to conflicting results between studies) the potential effects of age and relationship length still need to be taken into account. AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate the associations of age, relationship length, frequency of different sexual activities, and different modes of achieving ejaculation with self-reported ejaculation latency time. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome is establishing associations between age, relationship length, self-reported ejaculation latency time, and frequency of different kinds of sexual activities and different modes of achieving ejaculation (such as achieving ejaculation through oral or vaginal sex). METHODS: Statistical analyses of data on age, relationship length, self-reported ejaculation latency time, and frequency of different sexual activities and different modes of achieving ejaculation were conducted on a population-based sample of 3,189 males aged 18-48 years (mean = 29.9 years, standard deviation = 6.94). RESULTS: Age and relationship length were significantly negatively associated with self-reported ejaculation latency time. Frequency of different kinds of sexual behavior generally had a positive association with self-reported ejaculation latency time, as had different modes of achieving ejaculation. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the need for more extensive studies on and increased knowledge of different aspects of ejaculatory function before a valid and suitable definition for premature ejaculation can be formulated.

Psychiatric symptoms and same-sex sexual attraction and behavior in light of childhood gender atypical behavior and parental relationships.

This study explores the relation between the level of current symptoms of depression and anxiety and recalled childhood gender atypical behavior (GAB), and quality of relationships with parents among men and women who reported same-sex sexual attraction or engaged in same-sex sexual behavior and men and women who did not. Matched pairs, 79 men (n = 158) and 148 women (n = 296), with equal levels of GAB were created of Finnish participants with either same-sex sexual attraction or behavior and participants without. The measures used were retrospective questionnaires. Ratings of maternal and paternal over-control and coldness differed as a function of same-sex sexual attraction or behavior. Childhood GAB was correlated with negative ratings of parental relationships. Both same-sex sexual attraction or behavior and a history of childhood GAB affected the reported levels of current depression and anxiety. Only gender typical participants with no same-sex sexual attraction or behavior reported significantly lower levels of symptoms. The findings suggest that childhood GAB is related to later distress both among hetero- and homosexual individuals. The elevated level of psychological distress among homosexual individuals, reported in several studies, might--to some extent--be caused by their generally higher levels of childhood GAB as opposed to a homosexual orientation per se.

Significance of family life events in middle adolescence: a survey on Finnish community adolescents.

Finnish middle adolescents (n=3242) were assessed for family characters, family life events, depression and frequent drunkenness. Odds ratios for maladjustment outcomes associated with each event were computed and logistic regression models were used to estimate the effect of confounders. In the presence of serious illness or injury of a family member, increasing conflicts between parents and financial difficulties in the family, the probability of depression was twice as high than without the presence of these events. Parental unemployment, parent getting involved with the law and financial difficulties in the family were associated with frequent drunkenness. The associations between life events and depression were fairly similar among boys and girls. Among girls there were several events associated with frequent drunkenness even when family structure and socio-economic status were accounted for, while among boys there were only few. The significance of associations between family life events and depression may vary between the specific events while the associations between family life events and frequent drunkenness may be better explained with cumulative stress. Both males and females react to family stress, but the symptoms presented may differ. In case of family adversities, both internalizing and externalizing outcomes must be screened for.

Female sexual dysfunction, sexual distress, and compatibility with partner.

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have looked at prevalence estimates for female sexual dysfunctions in combination with personal distress, although existing diagnostic criteria for sexual disorders include both aspects. Further, the variation in female sexual function has been shown to be largely explained by unique nongenetic factors. Such factors may include partner sexual function and perception of sexual compatibility with a partner, factors which may also be associated with sexual distress. AIM: We investigated the association between female sexual dysfunction and distress as well as their association with partner compatibility. METHODS: In order to assess sexual function and distress, the Female Sexual Function Index and seven items from the Female Sexual Distress Scale were used in a population-based sample of 5,463 women, aged 18-49 years. The women were, based on cutoff points, classified as either having neither dysfunction nor distress, one of them, or both, separately for each dysfunction. Further, the associations between partner compatibility, distress, and sexual dysfunctions were analyzed. Sexual compatibility with partner was investigated by using several items exploring, for example, amount of foreplay, interest in sex, and communication about sexual matters. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Associations between partner compatibility and female sexual function and sexual distress. RESULTS: The proportion of women reporting both sexual dysfunction and distress ranged from 7% to 23%, depending on the dysfunction. Desire disorders followed by orgasmic disorders were most common. All compatibility variables were significantly associated with distress and with most of the sexual dysfunctions. The main complaints of the women were "too little foreplay" (42%) and "partner is more interested" (35%). The women feeling distress or having a sexual dysfunction reported more incompatibility with partner compared with functional women. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of addressing partner compatibility for successful treatment and counseling of female sexual dysfunctions.

Retrospective reports of parental physical affection and parenting style: a study of Finnish twins.

Individual differences in parenting behaviors are due, in part, to genetic factors. In the present study, the authors sought to determine whether the degree of genetic influence varied according to the type of parental behavior under consideration. A population-based sample of 2,334 pairs of Finnish twins provided ratings on the physical affection, control, abusiveness, and indifference shown by their father and mother during childhood. Genetic influences, shared environmental influences, and nonshared environmental influences accounted for a small-to-medium proportion (17%-30%), a small-to-large proportion (22%-44%), and a medium-to-large proportion (37%-55%) of the variance in each parenting measure, respectively. There were no significant differences in effect sizes for mothers and fathers or across the 4 types of parental behavior. The genetic results may reflect characteristic styles with which parents respond to genetically influenced behaviors of individuals (gene-environment correlations) or individual perceptions of this relationship (gene-person correlation processes). The findings have implications for intervention and prevention work with families and for interpretation of evidence for interactions between genes and parenting behaviors.

Factor structure of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) for men and women in different age groups.

OBJECTIVE: Our main aim was to investigate the factor structure of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in a Finnish population sample. METHOD: The AUDIT was completed by 3,125 men (mean age = 26.2 years) and 6,006 women (mean age = 26.1 years). RESULTS: At a cutoff score of 8 or more, 49.8% of the men and 23.9% of the women would be identified as potentially engaged in excessive alcohol use. Exploratory factor analyses suggested a two-factor solution for both men and women. However, the factor structure was not invariant between men and women or in the different age groups among men. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the largest known general population studies on alcohol use in recent years in Finland. The findings support a two-factor solution, and it is suggested that the AUDIT cutoff scores should be tailored according to age, gender, and drinking culture.

Do the same genetic and environmental effects underlie the covariation of alcohol dependence, smoking, and aggressive behaviour?

We investigated genetic and environmental effects on alcohol dependence, smoking, and aggressive behaviour, as well as sex differences in these effects and whether these effects were the same for the three phenotypes. There were 3141 male (mean age 26.2 [S.E.=0.1]) and 6026 female (mean age 26.1 [S.E.=0.1]) participants in this extended twin study. Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), number of cigarettes smoked, and two subscales of Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) were used to assess the phenotypes. All three were positively interrelated with males exhibiting higher levels on each phenotype. Multivariate model fitting identified genetic effects on all phenotypes for both men and women ranging between 69% (aggressive behaviour in women) and 78% (alcohol dependence in men). The effects were stronger in men for alcohol dependence and smoking. There were no qualitative genetic sex differences. Genetic correlations between all phenotypes were substantial.

Indicators of premature ejaculation and their associations with sexual distress in a population-based sample of young twins and their siblings.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, in anticipation of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V, much consideration has been given to the diagnostic criteria for premature ejaculation (PE). The scientific community is yet to agree not only on the etiology of PE, but also on the most suitable diagnosis and forms of treatment. It has been suggested that the diagnostic criteria of PE should be strictly empirical and rely on intravaginal latency time alone, whereas others stress the need to also include psychological and personal factors. AIM: To examine different indicators of PE and their relationship with and ability to predict sexual distress. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Statistical analyses of data on sexual distress and different measures of ejaculatory function on a population-based sample of 3,332 Finnish men. METHODS: The present study involved a population-based sample of 3,332 males, of which 2,328 were twins aged 18-33, and 1,004 were over 18-year-old siblings to the aforementioned (M = 26.17 years of age). The individual contributions of different PE-indicator variables to experienced sexual distress were investigated by calculating correlations and performing a regression analysis. RESULTS: All included indicators of PE were significantly associated with sexual distress, and significant and logical differences in sexual distress were found between intravariable levels for several of the indicator variables. Only variables relating to subjective experience (e.g., worrying about PE) were uniquely related to sexual distress when other indicators were controlled for. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that variables measuring subjective experience may be useful when considering diagnostic criteria if indicators that are related to sexual distress are considered useful. However, overall, the association between PE and sexual distress is not especially strong, emphasizing the fact that more objective indicators of PE may not necessarily be associated with significant distress.

Female sexual function and its associations with number of children, pregnancy, and relationship satisfaction.

Associations between number of children, pregnancy, and overall relationship satisfaction were explored in a population-based sample of 2081 women, aged 33-43 years. Multiparous women had less orgasm problems compared to nulliparous women. Nulliparous women had more pain problems and were sexually less satisfied compared to women with children, regardless of the number. Women pregnant with the first child had fewer pain problems compared to a matched nonpregnant control and were sexually more satisfied. Being more satisfied with the overall relationship was related to higher sexual satisfaction and less sexual function problems.

Genetic effects on male sexual coercion.

The genetic and environmental influences on sexual coercion, and to what extent its associations with alcohol use and psychopathy depend on shared genetic and environmental effects, were explored in a Finnish population-based sample of 938 men, aged 33-43 years, using the classical twin study design. All three phenotypes were associated positively and affected by genes (sexual coercion 28%, alcohol use 60%, psychopathy 54%), with 46% of the correlation between sexual coercion and psychopathy, 89% of the correlation between alcohol use and psychopathy and 100% of the correlation between sexual coercion and alcohol use being explained by shared genetic effects. Further, the results showed that a proportion of the variance in sexual coercion was derived from a highly genetic source that was common with alcohol use and psychopathy. This latent factor was hypothesized to reflect a general tendency for antisocial behavior that is pervasive across different situations. Relevant theories on sexual coercion were discussed in light of the results.

Potential for homosexual response is prevalent and genetic.

We investigated the potential to engage in homosexual behavior in 6001 female and 3152 male twins and their siblings finding that 32.8% of the men and 65.4% of the women reported such potential (p<0.001). 91.5% of these men and 98.3% of these women reported no overt homosexual behavior during the preceding 12 months. The potential to engage in homosexual behavior was influenced by genetic effects for both men (37.4%) and women (46.4%) and these overlapped only partly with those for overt homosexual behavior.