Defining nicotine dependence for genetic research: evidence from Australian twins.

摘要: Background. Whether current criteria used to define nicotine dependence are informative for genetic research is an important empirical question. The authors items of the DSM-IV and Heaviness Smoking Index characterize phenotype identify salient symptoms in a genetically community sample Australian young adult female mate twins. Method. Phenotypic factor analyses were performed on nine (the seven substance two (HSI) derived from Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire, time first cigarette morning number cigarettes smoked per day). restricted ever smokers. Results. symptom covariation was best captured by factors with similar pattern loadings women men. In analysis item but one shared environmental both men; however, differed gender. All substantially heritable, except criterion 'giving up or reducing activities order smoke', which weakly familial. Conclusions. behavioral indices tolerance, withdrawal, experiencing difficulty quitting HSI day may represent most highly heritable