Investigating the impact of poverty on mental illness in the UK Biobank using Mendelian Randomization

Marchi, Mattia, Alkema, Anne, Xia, Charley, Thio, Chris H. L., Chen, Li-Yu, Schalkwijk, Winni, Galeazzi, Gian Maria, Ferrari, Silvia, Pingani, Luca, Kweon, Hyeokmoon, Evans-Lacko, Sara ORCID: 0000-0003-4691-2630, Hill, W. David and Boks, Marco P. (2024) Investigating the impact of poverty on mental illness in the UK Biobank using Mendelian Randomization. Nature Human Behaviour. ISSN 2397-3374

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Abstract

It is unclear whether poverty and mental illness are causally related. Using UK Biobank and Psychiatric Genomic Consortium data, we examined evidence of causal links between poverty and nine mental illnesses (attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anorexia nervosa, anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia). We applied genomic structural equation modelling to derive a poverty common factor from household income, occupational income and social deprivation. Then, using Mendelian randomization, we found evidence that schizophrenia and ADHD causally contribute to poverty, while poverty contributes to major depressive disorder and schizophrenia but decreases the risk of anorexia nervosa. Poverty may also contribute to ADHD, albeit with uncertainty due to unbalanced pleiotropy. The effects of poverty were reduced by approximately 30% when we adjusted for cognitive ability. Further investigations of the bidirectional relationships between poverty and mental illness are warranted, as they may inform efforts to improve mental health for all.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.nature.com/nathumbehav/
Additional Information:	© 2024 The Authors
Divisions:	Personal Social Services Research Unit
Subjects:	H Social Sciences R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Date Deposited:	26 Jul 2024 10:33
Last Modified:	26 Jul 2024 10:33
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/123949

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