title: Effect of the serotonin transporter gene and of environment on the continuity of anxiety and depression traits throughout adolescence.
abstract: Aims. Many studies of various stress reactive phenotypes suggest that 5-HTTLPR short allele carriers (S-carriers) are characterised by the stable trait of negative affectivity that is converted to psychopathology only under conditions of stress. In this study, we examined the moderating role of the 5-HTTLPR on the relationship between two objective chronic risk factors, i.e. socioeconomic status (SES) and family structure, and internalising symptoms across adolescence. Methods. A multigroup path analysis was employed in a general adolescent population sample of a 5-year follow-up study. Results. Internalising problems were significantly more stable in the S-carriers. The focus on the main dimensions of internalising problems, i.e. anxiety and depression, revealed two different developmental patterns. In the S-carriers Anxiety problems seemed to be more stable and to predict a possible evolution towards the development of Depressive problems. In the long allele homozygotes (LL-subjects) the anxiety trait was significantly less stable, and, in late-adolescence, seemed to be significantly predicted by SES, suggesting a possible gene-environment interaction (G × E). Family structure seemed to play a role in a G × E perspective only until early-adolescence, while during late-adolescence SES seemed to play a pivotal role in interaction with 5-HTTLPR, with the S-allele playing a protective role. Conclusions. Future models of the developmental link between environmental adversities and internalising behaviour therefore need to consider that the effect of G × E interaction, may be associated with internalising behaviour via different mechanisms during different time frames and that shifts in the strength of this effect should be expected across development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry,'Eugenio Medea' Scientific Institute,Bosisio Parini,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nobile
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology,Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca,Milan,Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hermanas Hospitalarias,FoRiPsi,Albese con Cassano,Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry,'Eugenio Medea' Scientific Institute,Bosisio Parini,Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry,'Eugenio Medea' Scientific Institute,Bosisio Parini,Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry,'Eugenio Medea' Scientific Institute,Bosisio Parini,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellina
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry,'Eugenio Medea' Scientific Institute,Bosisio Parini,Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giorda
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology,Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca,Milan,Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monzani
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry,'Eugenio Medea' Scientific Institute,Conegliano,Italy.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carlet
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology,University of Maastricht,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Griez
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry,'Eugenio Medea' Scientific Institute,Bosisio Parini,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molteni