Neuroticism and polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter gene.
BACKGROUND
There is evidence for an association between two different polymorphisms of the human serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) and the personality trait of neuroticism and affective disorder.


METHODS
We studied the association between neuroticism and polymorphisms in the 5HTT-linked promoter region and in a variable number tandem repeat region (VNTR) of the 5-HTT gene in 204 people aged over 60 derived from a random sample of men and women in the general population. Approximately half of the subjects were in the top 20% of neuroticism scorers and half in the bottom 20%.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in allelic or genotypic frequencies between the high and low neuroticism scorers. There was highly significant linkage disequilibrium between the two 5-HTT gene polymorphisms, and haplotype analysis showed no association between neuroticism level and haplotype.


CONCLUSIONS
Reports of an association between two 5-HTT gene polymorphisms and the personality trait of neuroticism are not supported by these results.
Deary
I J
IJ
Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh.
Battersby
S
S
Whiteman
M C
MC
Connor
J M
JM
Fowkes
F G
FG
Harmar
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001692:Biological Transport; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012701:Serotonin