title: Associations between the SS variant of 5-HTTLPR and PTSD among adults with histories of childhood emotional abuse: results from two African American independent samples.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prior studies have found that the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) interacts with stressful life events to increase general risk for PTSD, but this association has not extended to African American samples. Further, little is known about the effects of this interaction on specific PTSD symptom clusters, despite indications that clusters may have different biological substrates. The current study examined the interaction between exposure to childhood emotional abuse and 5-HTTLPR genotype on risk for PTSD symptom severity and severity of specific PTSD symptom clusters in two African American samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 136 African American household residents from Detroit, MI and 546 African American patients recruited from waiting rooms in primary care clinics in Atlanta, GA. Participants reported emotional abuse exposure and PTSD symptom severity, and provided DNA for triallelic 5-HTTLPR genotyping. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to examine main effects and interactions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both African American samples, 5-HTTLPR genotype modified the effect of emotional abuse on PTSD symptom severity. Participants with the low-expression SS genotype who were exposed to emotional abuse had significantly lower reexperiencing and arousal symptom severity scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DNHS genetic sample size was small, and abuse data were assessed retrospectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SS variant of 5-HTTLPR appears to buffer against developing the reexperiencing and arousal symptoms of PTSD in two independent African American samples exposed to childhood emotional abuse. Findings also highlight the importance of considering emotional abuse experiences in patients with suspected PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, United States. Electronic address: klw2153@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
authors.forename: Richelo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soliven
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
authors.forename: Derek E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Wildman
authors.affiliation: Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA 30033, United States; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
authors.forename: Bekh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D017931:DNA Primers; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: Child abuse; Gene–environment interaction; PTSD
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