E-Risk Study

Nationally representative cohort of 1116 families having 2232 twins. Aims to improve understanding of the etiology of mental disorder & inform prevention.

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

We're so excited to start seeing our awesome twins again when they turn 30 to better understand how their adult lives are taking shape & what their hopes and fears are for the future🤩 We'll soon be advertising for 5 researchers to help us collect this data - watch this space!👀

[Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience @KingsIoPPN]

The Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study @ERiskstudy co-led by #KingsIoPPN and @kcsamh has been backed by £2.3 million funding from the @The_MRC to collect new follow-up data from #twin participants 👏 👭

Read the story ⬇️
https://t.co/usceJFh2TI

#IoPPNNews

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

Childhood social isolation 🚶‍♀️ → higher inflammation at 18 in E-Risk 🔥

But only suPAR holds after adjustments, and twin comparisons suggest shared family factors, not isolation alone, explain the link 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🔗

@KingsIoPPN @SGDPCentreKCL @kcsamh @The_MRC

https://t.co/vSatMZJCr0

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

Does tech use affect sleep in young people? 📱💤

Using E-Risk data, problematic digital technology use was linked to poorer sleep even after accounting for genetics & family factors 💡

Click below to find out more 🔽
https://t.co/RYvnCZDg2N

@KingsIoPPN @SGDPCentreKCL

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

Proud of Sanaa, our 2025–26 E-Risk placement student 🧑‍🎓, for her lightning talk ⚡ on rater agreement in ADHD assessments for E-Risk twins 👬🗒️

Thanks for all your hard work—we’ll miss you! 💜✨

@SGDPCentreKCL @KingsIoPPN @The_MRC @kcsamh

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

We asked E-Risk twins at age 30: what’s one goal for 2026?

Top answers:
🏡 Buying a home
💪 Getting healthier
💰 Saving money
✨ Making memories

@KingsIoPPN @SGDPCentreKCL @The_MRC @kcsamh

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

Meet Catherine 🎊 who recently joined E-Risk as a Research Worker!

"My research ambitions are to make all research as accessible, inclusive, and representative as possible. In my free time I love engaging with the arts 🎨 "

@KingsIoPPN @SGDPCentreKCL @kcsamh @The_MRC

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

Nearly 30 years of twin research 🧬 From age 5 to 30 — and counting. Huge thanks to our participants for making longitudinal research possible 🎉

@KingsIoPPN @kcsamh @The_MRC @SGDPCentreKCL

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

Childhood victimization doesn’t define the future.
Over ⅓ of affected children showed flourishing by age 18—especially in social support, sleep, and education. 💛📚

Read the paper below to find out more 📝

@KingsIoPPN @SGDPCentreKCL @The_MRC @kcsamh

https://t.co/ril4q1eOY3

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

Over 1,000 twins seen in #ERisk30 🎉

Massive thanks to our brilliant researchers, data, comms, admin & operations teams 🪇

@KingsIoPPN @SGDPCentreKCL @kcsamh @The_MRC

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

🧠Prospective vs. retrospective measures of childhood maltreatment often flag different people.

💡More social support & better mental health → less retrospective recall
💡Higher SES & positive family functioning → harder future detection

@KingsIoPPN @kcsamh @SGDPCentreKCL

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

🧠🌍 A recent E‑Risk finding shows a small link between higher childhood NOx exposure and later depression.

No strong links for other pollutants — but clean air still matters for young people’s mental health 💙🧠

@KingsIoPPN @SGDPCentreKCL @kcsamh @The_MRC

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

Welcome to Marta, the newest member of the E‑Risk team! 💫

“I'm excited to join the E‑Risk study! ✨ Meeting the twins at 30 is a rare chance to explore identity, relationships, and wellbeing from childhood into adulthood 🧑‍💭. I can't wait to get started with the team!” 💙

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

Meet Anna, our new Research Assistant! 🎉

“I’m thrilled to be joining the E‑Risk Study team 😊 I’m grateful for the chance to contribute to such impactful research ✨ I can’t wait to meet the amazing twins who make this work possible 👯‍♀️”

@KingsIoPPN @SGDPCentreKCL @The_MRC

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

E‑Risk twins grew up offline, entered adulthood online yet friendships stayed strong:

56% had 1–4 close friends, 40% had 5 or more. 💛🫂

@KingsIoPPN @SGDPCentreKCL @kcsamh @The_MRC

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

Across three cohorts, inc. @ERiskstudy a paper led by Dr Kyle Bourassa found that young people with lifetime PTSD show elevated suPAR at age 18, a marker of chronic inflammation.

A key insight into how trauma shapes long‑term health. 📚✨

@The_MRC @KingsIoPPN @SGDPCentreKCL

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

🧬📚 How do genes, families, and schools shape learning?

This paper led by Dr Alexandra Starr looks at how researchers untangle genetics from environment across childhood and countries, using E-Risk Study data🌍👯‍♀️

@KingsIoPPN @SGDPCentreKCL @The_MRC @kcsamh

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

The @ERiskstudy Team is really happy to share that we’ve now interviewed over 900 twins! 👯‍♀️✨

Thank you to every twin who has taken part so far, we appreciate you! 💙

@kcsamh @The_MRC @KingsIoPPN @SGDPCentreKCL

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

🧠 Why do reports of childhood maltreatment change? Recent E-Risk findings show:

1️⃣ Some harms weren’t recognised earlier
2️⃣ Recalling/sharing later isn’t easy
3️⃣ People reinterpret experiences over time

Each reporter adds a unique and important perspective 💡
@SGDPCentreKCL

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

How does screen time affect loneliness? ☹️

Working with E‑Risk, Dr Timothy Matthews examined young people’s online habits 🛜

📺 TV, gaming & browsing linked to greater loneliness
📱 Social media platforms showed no such link

@SGDPCentreKCL @KingsIoPPN @kcsamh @The_MRC

[E-Risk Study @ERiskstudy]

Young people with high autistic traits face greater risks of trauma, PTSD & mental health challenges by age 18.

📊 Dr. Alice Quinton’s PhD research at King’s College London calls for targeted PTSD assessments & treatments.

@SGDPCentreKCL @KingsIoPPN @kcsamh @The_MRC

[Louise Arseneault @L_Arseneault]

A special thank you to all E-Risk participants and the @ERiskstudy team for making this research possible.
Co-authors: @FloraBlangis , @NiamhDooley7 @HelenLFisher, @t_matth , and @candiceodgers