title: The serotonin transporter gene and risk for alcohol dependence: a meta-analytic review.
abstract: Previous studies have implicated a relationship between particular allelic variations of the serotonin transporter gene (5HTTLPR) and alcohol dependence. To provide a current estimate of the strength of this association, particularly in light of inconsistent results for 5HTTLPR, we conducted a meta-analytic review of the association between 5HTTLPR and a clinical diagnosis of alcohol dependence. Of 145 studies initially identified, 22 (including 8050 participants) met inclusion criteria. Results indicated that there was a significant albeit modest association between alcohol dependence diagnosis and the presence of at least 1 short allele (OR=1.15, 95% CI=1.01, 1.30, p<.05). Slightly more robust results were observed for participants who were homogeneous for the short allele (OR=1.21, 95% CI=1.02, 1.44, p<.05). These results were unrelated to sex and race/ethnicity of participants; however, the effect size was moderated by study sample size and publication year. Additionally, the fail-safe N analysis indicated potential publication bias. Therefore, although our review indicates that there is a significant association between 5HTTLPR and alcohol dependence diagnosis, this result should be interpreted with caution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA. rkmchugh@bu.edu
authors.forename: R Kathryn
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.forename: Stefan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asnaani
authors.forename: Alice T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Otto
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D000483:Alleles; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D017594:Publication Bias; D012306:Risk; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins