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Moderation of adult depression by the serotonin transporter promoter variant (5‐HTTLPR), childhood abuse and adult traumatic events in a general population sample
Author(s) -
Grabe Hans Jörgen,
Schwahn Christian,
Mahler Jessie,
Schulz Andrea,
Spitzer Carsten,
Fenske Kristin,
Appel Katja,
Barnow Sven,
Nauck Matthias,
Schomerus Georg,
Biffar Reiner,
Rosskopf Dieter,
John Ulrich,
Völzke Henry,
Freyberger Harald Jürgen
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part b: neuropsychiatric genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.393
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1552-485X
pISSN - 1552-4841
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.b.32027
Subject(s) - 5 httlpr , serotonin transporter , psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , depression (economics) , population , beck depression inventory , child abuse , psychological abuse , mood , major depressive disorder , physical abuse , mood disorders , moderation , poison control , medicine , injury prevention , serotonin , anxiety , receptor , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics , social psychology
The impact of the promoter polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter (5‐HTTLPR) on mood has been studied by two‐way interaction models comprising one environmental factor and genotype variants. However, childhood abuse is assumed to be associated with different psychobiological long‐term effects than adult traumatic events. Both types of trauma may interact on an individual basis throughout the lifespan moderating the impact of the 5‐HTTLPR s allele on depressive disorders. Therefore, the hypothesis of a three‐way interaction among the 5‐HTTLPR, childhood abuse and adult traumatic experience was tested. Caucasian subjects (1,974) from the general population in Germany (Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP)) were analyzed. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐II). Childhood abuse was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Adult traumatic events were derived from the SCID interview (DSM‐IV) on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Global three‐way interactions among the 5‐HTTLPR, adult traumatic experiences and childhood abuse ( P = 0.0007) were found. Carriers of the ss or sl genotypes who had been exposed to childhood abuse and to more than two adult traumatic events had higher mean BDI‐II scores (16.0 [95% CI 8.4–23.6]) compared to those carrying the ll genotype (7.6 [4.5–10.7]). These results were supported using a second, more severe definition of childhood abuse ( P = 0.02). No two‐way interactions were observed ( P > 0.05). Childhood abuse and adult traumatic events may act synergistically in interaction with the s allele of the 5‐HTTLPR to increase the risk for depressive symptoms independently from the lifetime diagnosis of PTSD. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.