Causal inference in Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) research

Suzanne H Gage*, Marcus R Munafo, George Davey Smith

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

136 Citations (Scopus)
657 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Studies of the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) often rely on prospective observational data, from which associations between developmental exposures and outcomes in later life can be identified. Typically, conventional statistical methods are used in an attempt to mitigate problems inherent in observational data, such as confounding and reverse causality, but these have serious limitations. In this review, we discuss a variety of methods that are increasingly being used in observational epidemiological studies to help strengthen causal inference. These methods include negative controls, cross-contextual designs, instrumental variables (including Mendelian randomization), family-based studies, and natural experiments. Applications within the DOHaD framework, and in relation to behavioral, psychiatric, and psychological domains, are considered, and the considerable potential for expanding the use of these methods is outlined.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)567-585
Number of pages19
JournalAnnual Review of Psychology
Volume67
Early online date6 Oct 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Jan 2016

Research Groups and Themes

  • Brain and Behaviour
  • Tobacco and Alcohol

Keywords

  • Causal inference
  • Cross-contextual comparison
  • DOHaD
  • Instrumental variable
  • Negative control
  • Twin study

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