Serotonin transporter promoter gene polymorphism and long-term outcome of antidepressant treatment.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the relationship between the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and the long-term outcome of antidepressant treatment.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-eight patients with major depressive disorder were evaluated for long-term outcome (up to 3 years) of antidepressant treatment. The severity and improvement of depression were assessed with the Clinical Global Impression scale. The genotypes of 5-HTTLPR in the patients were determined using polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
During the long-term treatment of antidepressants (1-3 years of treatment), clinical improvement of depressive symptoms was more significant for carriers of the long (l) allele [l/l and l/short (s) genotypes] than for those possessing the s/s genotype (P=0.025 at 1 year, P=0.005 at 2 years, P=0.005 at 3 years). A response to treatment was also significantly more frequent in carriers of the l allele than in those with the s/s genotype (P=0.015).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings show that patients with major depressive disorder possessing the 5-HTTLPR l allele may exhibit a better long-term outcome when treated with antidepressants.
Lee
Min-Soo
MS
Department of Psychiatry, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Sungbuk-Ku, Seoul. leeminso@korea.ac.kr
Lee
Hwa-Young
HY
Lee
Heon-Jeong
HJ
Ryu
Seung-Ho
SH
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins