title: Preliminary evidence of the short allele of the serotonin transporter gene predicting poor response to cognitive behavior therapy in posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was intended to assess the extent to which the low-expression alleles of the serotonin transporter gene promoter predict poor response to cognitive behavior therapy in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients with PTSD underwent an 8-week exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy program and provided mouth swabs or saliva samples to extract genomic DNA and classify individuals according to four allelic forms (S(A), S(G), L(A), L(G)) of the 5-HTT-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR). We determined whether the 5-HTTLPR genotype predicted change in PTSD severity following treatment (n = 45) and 6 months later (n = 42).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for pretreatment PTSD severity and number of treatment sessions, the 5-HTTLPR low-expression genotype group (S or L(G) allele carriers) displayed more severe PTSD 6 months following treatment relative to other patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests a genetic contribution to treatment outcome following cognitive behavior therapy and implicates the serotonergic system in response to exposure-based treatments in PTSD.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. r.bryant@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: Kim L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Felmingham
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Falconer
authors.forename: Laarnie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pe Benito
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dobson-Stone
authors.forename: Kerrie D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Schofield
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins