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The Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Henrik Anckarsäter*
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Forensic Psychiatry, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Department of Clinical Sciences, Forensic Psychiatry, Lund University, Sweden
Sebastian Lundström
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences, Forensic Psychiatry, Lund University, Sweden Swedish Prison and Probation Service, R&D Unit, Norrköping, Sweden
Linnea Kollberg
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Nora Kerekes
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Forensic Psychiatry, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Swedish Prison and Probation Service, R&D Unit, Norrköping, Sweden
Camilla Palm
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Eva Carlström
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Niklas Långström
Affiliation:
Swedish Prison and Probation Service, R&D Unit, Norrköping, Sweden Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Patrik K. E. Magnusson
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Linda Halldner
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Karolinska Institutet Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Stockholm, Sweden
Sven Bölte
Affiliation:
Karolinska Institutet Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Stockholm, Sweden Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Christopher Gillberg
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
Clara Gumpert
Affiliation:
Section of Forensic Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Maria Råstam
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Department of Clinical Sciences, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Lund University, Sweden
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Professor Henrik Anckarsäter, Forensic Psychiatry, Lillhagsparken 3, 422 05 Hisings Backa, Sweden. E-mail: henrik.anckarsater@neuro.gu.se

Abstract

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The Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS) is an ongoing longitudinal twin study targeting all twins born in Sweden since July 1, 1992. Since 2004, parents of twins are interviewed regarding the children's somatic and mental health and social environment in connection with their 9th or 12th birthdays (CATSS-9/12). By January 2010, 8,610 parental interviews concerning 17,220 twins had been completed, with an overall response rate of 80%. At age 15 (CATSS-15) and 18 (CATSS-18), twins and parents complete questionnaires that, in addition to assessments of somatic and mental health, include measures of personality development and psychosocial adaptation. Twin pairs in CATSS-9/12 with one or both twins screening positive for autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, tic disorders, developmental coordination disorder, learning disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and/or eating problems have been followed with in-depth questionnaires on family, social environment and personality, and subsequently by clinical assessments at age 15 together with randomly selected population controls, including 195 clinically assessed twin pairs from the first 2 year cohorts (CATSS-15/DOGSS). This article describes the cohorts and study groups, data collection, and measures used. Prevalences, distributions, heritability estimates, ages at onset, and sex differences of mental health problems in the CATSS-9/12, that were analyzed and found to be overall comparable to those of other clinical and epidemiological studies. The CATSS study has the potential of answering important questions on the etiology of childhood mental health problems and their role in the development of later adjustment problems.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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