Tryptophan hydroxylase and serotonin transporter gene polymorphism does not affect the diagnosis, clinical features and treatment outcome of panic disorder in the Korean population.
Panic disorder may be associated with defective serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission. This study was to investigate the association between the tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) gene and a serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR), with panic disorder in a Korean population. 244 Korean patients with panic disorder and the 227 controls were genotyped by a polymerase chain reaction-based method. The severity of panic disorders was assessed by number of panic attacks during the previous 1 month, as well as scores for anticipatory anxiety, panic distress, and agoraphobic distress, as determined by a visual analogue scale (VAS). All the subjects completed the assessment measures including Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S), Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait (STAI-T), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Revised Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-R), Clinical Global Impression Scale--Severity of Illness (CGI-S), Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS), and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). Responder analyses were conducted based on changes in CGI-I scores after 10 weeks of treatment. We found no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies in TPH A218C and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms between the panic patients and the control group. Subgroup analyses in terms of comorbidities, response, and other primary clinical variables, indicated no differences in these polymorphisms. Our findings suggest that the TPH A218C polymorphism and 5-HTTLPR play no significant roles in the pathogenesis and clinical symptomatologies, at least in a Korean population.
Kim
Won
W
Department of Psychiatry and Stress Research Institute, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Choi
Young Hee
YH
Yoon
Kyung-Sik
KS
Cho
Dae-Yeon
DY
Pae
Chi-Un
CU
Woo
Jong-Min
JM
D017668:Age of Onset; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012016:Reference Values; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*
D017931:DNA Primers; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D004247:DNA; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase