Are polygenic risk scores linked to comorbid anxiety and depression cases?
Polygenic risk scores (PRS) are genetic tools that sum up many small DNA variations to estimate a person's inherited risk for a condition. Research shows that anxiety disorders and major depression often occur together, and this comorbidity may have a genetic basis. Studies using PRS have found that scores for anxiety and depression are more strongly linked to cases where both conditions are present than to cases of either disorder alone, indicating shared genetic influences.
What the research says
A 2024 study using UK Biobank and Norwegian cohort data found that PRS derived from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that included comorbid cases showed stronger associations with comorbid anxiety-depression cases than with pure anxiety or pure depression cases 2. Specifically, the comorbid PRS was more strongly associated with comorbid cases than with major depression alone (Z=-2.82) or anxiety alone (Z=-2.36) 2. This suggests that including comorbid cases in genetic studies captures shared genetic factors. Another study in a Norwegian cohort found that children's own MDD polygenic scores showed adolescence-specific effects on depressive symptoms, and ADHD and educational attainment polygenic scores also had stable effects 1. Additionally, a 2025 study on bipolar disorder found that PRS for ADHD correlated with childhood maltreatment and dimensional measures like affective lability, but none of the PRS were significantly associated with clinical expression of bipolar disorder 7. A 2019 population study showed that schizophrenia PRS was associated with total number of anxiety disorders and with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, indicating genetic overlap across psychiatric conditions 8. These findings collectively support that polygenic risk scores are linked to comorbid anxiety and depression, reflecting shared genetic architecture.
What to ask your doctor
- Could my family history of anxiety or depression affect my risk for having both conditions?
- Are there genetic tests or risk scores available that might help understand my condition?
- How might shared genetic factors influence treatment options for comorbid anxiety and depression?
- Should I consider participating in genetic research studies on anxiety and depression?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Genetics & Precision Medicine and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.