title: Associations between a polymorphism in the hydroxysteroid (11-beta) dehydrogenase 1 gene, neuroticism and postpartum depression.
abstract: This study examined the association between a single nucleotide polymorphism in the hydroxysteroid (11-beta) dehydrogenase 1 gene and neuroticism, as well as the possible mediatory role of neuroticism in the association between the polymorphism and postpartum depressive symptoms.
  
  
  
  769 women received questionnaires containing the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at six weeks postpartum and demographic data at pregnancy week 17 and 32 and at six weeks postpartum, as well as the Swedish universities Scales of Personality at pregnancy week 32.
  
  
  
  Linear regression models showed an association between the GG genotype and depressive symptoms. When neuroticism was introduced in the model, it was associated with EPDS score, whereas the association between the GG genotype and EPDS became borderline significant. A path analysis showed that neuroticism had a mediatory role in the association between the polymorphism and EPDS score.
  
  
  
  The use of the EPDS, which is a self-reporting instrument.
  
  
  
  Neuroticism was associated with the polymorphism and had a mediatory role in the association between the polymorphism and postpartum depression. This finding elucidates the genetic background of neuroticism and postpartum depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: stavros.iliadis@kbh.uu.se.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Iliadis
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Comasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hellgren
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kollia
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sundström Poromaa
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skalkidou
mesh_terms: D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D000075384:Neuroticism; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1; C468386:HSD11B1 protein, human
keywords: Depression; Endophenotype; Neuroticism; Polymorphism; Postpartum