Monzani, B., Rijsdijk, F., Cherkas, L., Harris, J., Keuthen, N., & Mataix-Cols, D. (2012). Prevalence and heritability of skin picking in an adult community sample: a twin study. American journal of medical genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric genetics : the official publication of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics, 159B(5), 605–610. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.b.32067

State University of New York at Buffalo

The present study examined the prevalence and heritability of skin-picking symptoms in a large sample of twins. 
- A total of 2,518 twins
- a valid and reliable self-report measure of skin-picking behavior. 
- Twin modeling methods
- All women

Prevalence and Heritability of Excoriation (Skin-Picking Disorder) in an Adult Community Sample: a Twin Study

Univariate model-fitting analyses showed that genetic factors accounted for approximately 40% of the variance in skin picking, with non-shared environmental factors and measurement error accounting for the remaining variance. It is concluded that pathological skin picking is relatively prevalent problem, particularly among women, and that it tends to run in families primarily due to genetic factors. Non-shared environmental factors are also likely to play an important role in its etiology.

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