title: Effects of the serotonin transporter polymorphism and history of major depression on overgeneral autobiographical memory.
abstract: Overgeneral autobiographical memory (OGM) is a key memory deficit in major depressive disorder (MDD). Much research has examined cognitive mechanisms underlying OGM, but little work has investigated potential neurobiological influences. There is preliminary evidence that a genetic serotonergic vulnerability coupled with depressive symptoms may be associated with other memory impairments, and experimental research suggests a role for serotonin in OGM. We investigated whether a polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) was associated with OGM in interaction with a lifetime history of MDD in 370 young adults in a longitudinal study of risk for emotional disorders. There was a significant interaction between 5-HTTLPR genotype and lifetime history of MDD in predicting OGM. Among S allele homozygotes, MDD history was associated with greater OGM, whereas no significant relationship between MDD history and OGM emerged among L carriers. Furthermore, there was evidence that a greater number of S alleles were associated with greater memory specificity in individuals without a history of MDD. Implications for understanding cognitive and biological risk for depression are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Northwestern University , Evanston , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sumner
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vrshek-Schallhorn
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mineka
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Zinbarg
authors.forename: Michelle G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Craske
authors.forename: Eva E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Redei
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolitzky-Taylor
authors.forename: Emma K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Adam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: 5-HTTLPR; Autobiographical memory specificity; Depression; Genetic association; Overgeneral autobiographical memory