title: Effect of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism on posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and stress are significant problems among returning veterans and are associated with reduced quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  A correlational design was used to examine the impact of a polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in the serotonin transporter promoter gene on post-deployment adjustment among returning veterans.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 186 returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism. Symptoms of PTSD, depression, general stress, and anxiety were assessed along with quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for combat exposure, age, sex of the participant, and race, 5-HTTLPR had a significant multivariate effect on post-deployment adjustment, such that S' carriers reported more post-deployment adjustment problems and worse quality of life than veterans homozygous for the L' allele. This effect was larger when the analyses were restricted to veterans of European ancestry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that veterans who carry the S' allele of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism may be at increased risk for adjustment problems and reduced quality of life following deployments to war zones.
authors.affiliation: a Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Durham , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Nathan A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kimbrel
authors.forename: Sandra B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Morissette
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chrestman
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jamroz
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Silvia
authors.forename: Jean C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Beckham
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D000066498:Emotional Adjustment; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: 5-HTTLPR; PTSD; anxiety; depression; serotonin transporter; stress; trauma