The Beijing Twin Study (BeTwiSt): An Update

Twin Res Hum Genet. 2019 Dec;22(6):486-491. doi: 10.1017/thg.2019.52. Epub 2019 Aug 29.

Abstract

The Beijing Twin Study (BeTwiSt), which was established in 2006, is an ongoing study aiming to investigate the genetic and environmental etiology of adolescent psychopathology. Resting-state brain imaging datasets have been examined for same-sex twins, and other psychological traits and emotional and behavioral variables have been examined for all twins. Based on the registry, the main findings regarding the etiological mechanism underlying adolescent development, magnetic resonance imaging results, and genetic and environmental influences on other psychological traits have been published. This article summarizes the key findings in these three areas and discusses future plans for the BeTwiSt.

Keywords: Twin study; adolescent; magnetic resonance imaging; psychological traits; psychopathology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Development
  • Beijing / epidemiology
  • Biomedical Research
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Mapping / methods
  • Diseases in Twins / epidemiology*
  • Diseases in Twins / genetics
  • Diseases in Twins / psychology
  • Gene-Environment Interaction*
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Incidence
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Phenotype
  • Registries / statistics & numerical data*
  • Research Design / standards
  • Twins, Dizygotic / genetics*
  • Twins, Dizygotic / psychology
  • Twins, Monozygotic / genetics*
  • Twins, Monozygotic / psychology