title: Serotonin transporter gene and childhood trauma--a G × E effect on anxiety sensitivity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genetic factors and environmental factors are assumed to interactively influence the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. Thus, a gene-environment interaction (G × E) study was conducted with respect to anxiety sensitivity (AS) as a promising intermediate phenotype of anxiety disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy subjects (N = 363) were assessed for AS, childhood maltreatment (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), and genotyped for functional serotonin transporter gene variants (5-HTTLPR/5-HTT rs25531). The influence of genetic and environmental variables on AS and its subdimensions was determined by a step-wise hierarchical regression and a multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant G × E effect of the more active 5-HTT genotypes and childhood maltreatment on AS was observed. Furthermore, genotype (LL)-childhood trauma interaction particularly influenced somatic AS subdimensions, whereas cognitive subdimensions were affected by childhood maltreatment only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate a G × E effect of the more active 5-HTT genotypes and childhood maltreatment on AS, with particular impact on its somatic subcomponent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klauke
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deckert
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reif
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pauli
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zwanzger
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arolt
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glöckner-Rist
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Domschke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins