Child abuse and neglect, MAOA, and mental health outcomes: a prospective examination.
BACKGROUND
Studies have examined the interaction of MAOA genotype with childhood maltreatment in relation to depressive symptomatology and alcohol abuse with conflicting findings. Both high- and low-activity allele combinations have been shown to be protective for maltreated children with direction of findings varying by study methodology and participants' sex.


METHODS
Participants in a prospective cohort design study involving court-substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect and a matched comparison group were followed up into adulthood and interviewed (N = 802). Eighty-two percent consented to provide blood, 631 gave permission for DNA extraction and analyses, and 575 were included in the final sample. This sample included male, female, white, and nonwhite (primarily black) participants. Symptoms of dysthymia, major depression, and alcohol abuse were assessed using the National Institutes of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule-III-R.


RESULTS
Significant three-way interactions, MAOA genotype by abuse by sex, predicted dysthymic symptoms. Low-activity MAOA genotype buffered against symptoms of dysthymia in physically abused and multiply-maltreated women. Significant three-way interactions, MAOA genotype by sexual abuse by race, predicted all outcomes. Low-activity MAOA genotype buffered against symptoms of dysthymia, major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse for sexually abused white participants. The high-activity genotype was protective in the nonwhite sexually abused group.


CONCLUSIONS
This prospective study provides evidence that MAOA interacts with child maltreatment to predict mental health outcomes. Reasons for sex differences and race findings are discussed.
Department of Psychology, John Jay College, City University of New York, 899 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY 10019, USA. vnikulina@jjay.cuny.edu
Valentina
V
Nikulina
Cathy Spatz
CS
Widom
Linda M
LM
Brzustowicz
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000208:ethnology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044469:Racial Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology
D008995:Monoamine Oxidase