Genome-wide association study of response to cognitive-behavioural therapy in children with anxiety disorders

BackgroundAnxiety disorders are common, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a first-line treatment. Candidate gene studies have suggested a genetic basis to treatment response, but findings have been inconsistent.AimsTo perform the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of psychological treatment response in children with anxiety disorders (n = 980).MethodPresence and severity of anxiety was assessed using semi structured interview at baseline, on completion of treatment (post-treatment), and 3 to 12 months after treatment completion (follow-up). DNA was genotyped using the IIlumina Human Core Exome-12v1.0 array. Linear mixed models were used to test associations between genetic variants and response (change in symptom severity) immediately post-treatment and at 6-month follow-up.ResultsNo variants passed a genome-wide significance threshold (P = 5 x 10(-8)) in either analysis. Four variants met criteria for suggestive significance (P <5 x 10(-6)) in association with response post-treatment, and three variants in the 6-month follow-up analysis.ConclusionsThis is the first genome-wide therapygenetic study. It suggests no common variants of very high effect underlie response to CBT. Future investigations should maximise power to detect single-variant and polygenic effects by using larger, more homogeneous cohorts.