title: No association between the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region polymorphism and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in combat veterans with or without comorbid depression.
abstract: Since both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are associated with disturbances in the serotoninergic system, the aim of the study was to determine the association between severity of PTSD symptoms, serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and platelet serotonin (5-HT) concentration, in male combat veterans with PTSD (n = 325), who were subdivided according to presence of comorbid depression. The methodological approach included the psychiatric diagnostic interviews and rating scales (SCID for DSM-IV, HDRS, CAPS), polymerase chain reaction for 5-HTTLPR genotyping and spectrophotofluorometric method for measuring the platelet 5-HT concentration. PTSD veterans without depression had more severe PTSD symptoms, and less severe depressive symptoms, than PTSD veterans with depression. 5-HTTLPR genotype frequencies did not differ between veterans with mild, moderate and severe PTSD symptoms, and between depressed and non-depressed PTSD veterans. No significant association was found between the severity of PTSD symptoms and 5-HTTLPR genotype. Platelet 5-HT concentration was similar in PTSD veterans, with or without comorbid depression, and between two groups subdivided according to the severity of PTSD symptoms or 5-HTTLPR genotype. The study confirmed, on ethnically homogenous groups of veterans with matched combat experience, a lack of association between the PTSD symptoms severity and 5-HTTLPR or platelet 5-HT concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychopharmacology, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Zrnka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kovacic Petrovic
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nedic Erjavec
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Matea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikolac Perkovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Referral Centre for the Stress related Disorders of Ministry of Health of Croatia, University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peraica
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: npivac@irb.hr.
authors.forename: Nela
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pivac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000235:genetics; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin
keywords: 5-HTTLPR; Combat veterans; Comorbid depression; Platelet 5-HT concentration; Symptom severity