The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism modulates the association of serious life events (SLE) and impulsivity in patients with Borderline Personality Disorder.
BACKGROUND
Impulsivity belongs to the key features of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It has been linked to altered serotoninergic neurotransmission and, genetically, to an over-representation of the short (S) allele of the serotonin transporter promoter-linked polymorphic region polymorphism (5-HTTLPR). On the other hand, serious life events (SLE) are of major importance in the development of BPD. However, the inter-relations between SLEs, impulsivity, and 5-HTTLPR are not understood.


METHODS
159 BPD patients from Germany were included in this study. Impulsivity was assessed by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS). We analysed (1) the effects of SLEs on impulsivity; and (2) modulating effects of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism on the effects of SLEs on impulsivity.


RESULTS
Regression analyses confirmed a decreasing effect of childhood sexual abuse, the cumulative SLE-related reactions and the impairment by SLEs on BIS sum score. Regarding BIS sum score, all SLEs except for rape were associated with a decrease of impulsivity in SS/SL carriers and an increase of BIS sum score in LL carriers.


CONCLUSIONS
This study analyzing a specific gene x environment interaction in BPD patients suggests an interaction between SLEs and the 5-HTTLPR S/L polymorphism in the development of impulsivity in BPD patients. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany. stefwagn@uni-mainz.de
Stefanie
S
Wagner
Omür
O
Baskaya
Klaus
K
Lieb
Norbert
N
Dahmen
André
A
Tadić
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019548:Crime Victims; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins