Modification of the association between serotonin transporter genotype and risk of posttraumatic stress disorder in adults by county-level social environment.
Although both genetic factors and features of the social environment are important predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there are few data examining gene-social environment interactions in studies of PTSD. The authors examined whether features of the social environment (county-level crime rate and unemployment) modified the association between the serotonin protein gene (SLC6A4) promoter variant (5-HTTLPR) and risk of current PTSD in a sample of 590 participants from the 2004 Florida Hurricane Study. Interviews conducted in 2005 were used to obtain individual-level risk factor measures and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, PTSD diagnoses. DNA was extracted from salivary samples. County-level crime and unemployment rates were assessed from Federal Bureau of Investigation and US Census data, respectively. There was a significant interaction between 5-HTTLPR genotype and both crime rate (odds ratio = 2.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.09, 6.57) and unemployment rate (odds ratio = 3.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.42, 9.50) in logistic regression models predicting PTSD risk, after adjustment for individual-level determinants of PTSD. Stratified analyses indicated that the "s" allele of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was associated with decreased risk of PTSD in low-risk environments (low crime/unemployment rates) but increased risk of PTSD in high-risk environments. These results suggest that social environment modifies the effect of 5-HTTLPR genotype on PTSD risk.
Koenen
Karestan C
KC
Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. kkoenen@hsph.harvard.edu
Aiello
Allison E
AE
Bakshis
Erin
E
Amstadter
Ananda B
AB
Ruggiero
Kenneth J
KJ
Acierno
Ron
R
Kilpatrick
Dean G
DG
Gelernter
Joel
J
Galea
Sandro
S
D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008016:Life Change Events; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins