Early family environment, current adversity, the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism, and depressive symptomatology.
Title | Early family environment, current adversity, the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism, and depressive symptomatology. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2006 |
Authors | Taylor SE, Way BM, Welch WT, Hilmert CJ, Lehman BJ, Eisenberger NI |
Journal | Biol Psychiatry |
Volume | 60 |
Issue | 7 |
Pagination | 671-6 |
Date Published | 2006 Oct 1 |
ISSN | 0006-3223 |
Keywords | Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Depressive Disorder, Family Relations, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Humans, Male, Polymorphism, Genetic, Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins, Social Environment, Stress, Psychological, Time Factors |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: Mixed evidence has suggested that homozygous carriers of the short allele (s/s) of the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) may be at increased risk for depression, if they have also been exposed to early or current adversity/stress. We address this debate by examining the relation of a stressful early family environment, recent adversity/stress, and the 5-HTTLPR to depressive symptomatology in a normal sample. METHODS: A nonclinical sample of 118 young adult men and women completed assessments of early family environment, recent stressful events, psychosocial resources, and psychological distress, including depressive symptomatology. The 5-HTTLPR was genotyped using a standard protocol with DNA extracted from oral fluid. RESULTS: A stressful early family environment was significantly related to depressive symptomatology. In addition, gene-by-environment (GxE) interactions were observed between the 5-HTTLPR and both early family environment and current adversity/stress. Individuals homozygous for the short allele had greater depressive symptomatology if they had experienced early or recent adversity but significantly less depressive symptomatology if they reported a supportive early environment or recent positive experiences, compared with participants with the s/l or l/l genotype. CONCLUSIONS: Early or current environment, in conjunction with the serotonin transporter polymorphism, predicts depressive symptomatology. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.04.019 |
Alternate Journal | Biol. Psychiatry |
PubMed ID | 16934775 |
Grant List | MH15750 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States MH56880 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States |