title: Chronic family stress interacts with 5-HTTLPR to predict prospective depressive symptoms among youth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research, predominantly with adults, has shown that the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) interacts with stress (G × E) to predict depressive symptoms; however, few G × E studies have been conducted with youth using rigorous methods, particularly a prospective design and contextual interview to assess stress. This study examined the interaction between 5-HTTLPR and stress, both chronic and episodic, to predict longitudinal change in depressive symptoms among children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A general community sample of youth (N = 200; 57% girls; mean age: 12.09 years old) was genotyped for 5-HTTLPR (rs 25531) at baseline. They were interviewed via contextual stress procedures to ascertain chronic family stress and episodic stressors and completed depressive symptoms questionnaires at baseline and 6 months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant G × E showed that chronic family stress predicted prospective increases in depressive symptoms over 6 months among youth possessing the high-risk S allele. This G × E was not found for episodic stressors occurring in the last 6 months. There was no moderation by sex or pubertal status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings advance knowledge on G × E effects in depression among youth. This is the first study to show that chronic family stress, but not episodic stressors, when ascertained by rigorous stress interview, interacts with 5-HTTLPR to prospectively predict depressive symptoms among children and adolescents.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80220, USA. jjenness@du.edu
authors: Jessica L
authors: JL
authors: Jenness
authors: Benjamin L
authors: BL
authors: Hankin
authors: John R Z
authors: JR
authors: Abela
authors: Jami F
authors: JF
authors: Young
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Smolen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins