title: 5-HTTLPR moderates the relation between changes in depressive and bulimic symptoms in adolescent girls: a longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Depression and bulimia both are associated with low serotonin levels. We examined whether the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) moderates the relation between depressive and bulimic symptoms over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty adolescent girls with no current or past Axis I disorder were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR gene. Twice, 6 months apart, participants completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms and bulimic symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The association between change in depressive symptoms and change in bulimic symptoms over time was significantly stronger in girls who are homozygous for the short 5-HTTLPR allele than for girls with at least one long allele.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding is consistent with previous studies documenting a relation between depressive and bulimic symptoms in adolescents. Few studies, however, considered the possible role of serotonin linking both disorders. Gaining a better understanding of developmental effects of low serotonin could help to identify high-risk individuals and provide effective prevention and intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA. jutta.mata@unibas.ch
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mata
authors.forename: Ian H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Gotlib
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D002032:Bulimia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D057566:Self Report; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins