Attachment style and oxytocin receptor gene variation interact in influencing social anxiety.
OBJECTIVE
Social anxiety has been suggested to be promoted by an insecure attachment style. Oxytocin is discussed as a mediator of trust and social bonding as well as a modulator of social anxiety. Applying a gene-environment (G × E) interaction approach, in the present pilot study the main and interactive effects of attachment styles and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene variation were probed in a combined risk factor model of social anxiety in healthy probands.


METHODS
Participants (N = 388; 219 females, 169 males; age 24.7 ± 4.7 years) were assessed for anxiety in social situations (Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory) depending on attachment style (Adult Attachment Scale, AAS) and OXTR rs53576 A/G genotype.


RESULTS
A less secure attachment style was significantly associated with higher social anxiety. This association was partly modulated by OXTR genotype, with a stronger negative influence of a less secure attachment style on social anxiety in A allele carriers as compared to GG homozygotes.


CONCLUSIONS
The present pilot data point to a strong association of less secure attachment and social anxiety as well as to a gene-environment interaction effect of OXTR rs53576 genotype and attachment style on social anxiety possibly constituting a targetable combined risk marker of social anxiety disorder.
a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , University of Muenster , Muenster , Germany .
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S
Notzon
b Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy , University of Wuerzburg , Wuerzburg , Germany .
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K
Domschke
a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , University of Muenster , Muenster , Germany .
K
K
Holitschke
b Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy , University of Wuerzburg , Wuerzburg , Germany .
C
C
Ziegler
a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , University of Muenster , Muenster , Germany .
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V
Arolt
c Department of Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy , University of Wuerzburg , Wuerzburg , Germany .
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P
Pauli
d Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy , University of Frankfurt , Frankfurt am Main , Germany .
A
A
Reif
b Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy , University of Wuerzburg , Wuerzburg , Germany .
J
J
Deckert
a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , University of Muenster , Muenster , Germany .|e kbo-Inn-Salzach-Hospital , Wasserburg am Inn , Germany , and.|f Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , Ludwig-Maximilians-University , Munich , Germany.
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P
Zwanzger
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
C569600:OXTR protein, human; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin
OXTR; SAD; Social phobia; attachment; gene–environment interaction