title: Serotonin transporter gene × environment and risk of depression in community-treated epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to test whether a specific serotonin transporter (5HTT) gene polymorphism interacting with life stress increased the risk of depression in patients with epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Tasmanian Epilepsy Register Mood Study (TERMS) used a cross-sectional study design of a community sample of patients with epilepsy previously recruited into the Tasmanian Epilepsy Register. It employed a mailed self-complete questionnaire and saliva DNA collection. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Environmental measures were selected to cover recent stressful events, epilepsy-related stress, current social support, and early life stress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 820 eligible participants, 553 (67%) participants completed the study. Experience of at least one stressful life event was very common, with a significant association between depression and the stressful life events (F=26.2, df=3, p<0.001). There was no association between serotonin transporter genotype and level of depressive symptoms reported (F=0.421, df=2, p=0.7). There was no evidence of any adverse life experiences interacting with serotonin transporter genotype to moderate the risk of depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The failure to demonstrate a main effect of genotype on depression or a gene × environment interaction differs from several studies of patients with other chronic diseases. However, it is consistent with larger general population studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: cameron.lacey@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Cameron J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lacey
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: msalzber@bigpond.net.au.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Salzberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: wendyl@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Wendyl J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: D'Souza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012306:Risk; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D013648:Tasmania / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: Comorbidity; Depression; Epilepsy; Gene×environment; Serotonin transporter