Variations in 5-HTTLPR: relation to familiar risk of affective disorder, life events, neuroticism and cortisol.
BACKGROUND
Variations in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and stressful life events are associated with affective disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the distribution of the alleles of the 5-HTTLPR is associated with a genetic predisposition to affective disorder and whether these variations interact with life events in relation to depressive symptoms, neuroticism and salivary cortisol.


METHODS
In a high-risk population study, healthy monozygotic and dizygotic twins with (high-risk twins) and without (low-risk twins) a co-twin history of affective disorder were identified through nationwide registers.


RESULTS
When comparing the 81 individuals homozygote for the long allele with the 125 individuals hetero- and homozygote for the short allele no associations between the allele distribution and a genetic predisposition were found. The presence of the short allele of the 5-HTTLPR and the experience of SLE was associated with a higher neuroticism score, but not with depressive symptoms nor awakening or evening salivary cortisol.


CONCLUSIONS
A combination of variants in 5-HTTLPR and environmental stress seems to increase neuroticism in healthy individuals.
Vinberg
Maj
M
Department of Psychiatry, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. maj.vinberg@rh.dk
Mellerup
Erling
E
Andersen
Per Kragh
PK
Bennike
Bente
B
Kessing
Lars Vedel
LV
D000328:Adult; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000235:genetics; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics
D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D006854:Hydrocortisone