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Association of the serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphism with biased attention for negative word stimuli
Author(s) -
Kwang Tracy,
Wells Tony T.,
McGeary John E.,
Swann William B.,
Beevers Christopher G.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.20708
Subject(s) - attentional bias , serotonin transporter , psychology , anxiety , 5 httlpr , association (psychology) , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , genetics , genotype , biology , gene , psychotherapist
Abstract Background : Biased attention for emotional stimuli reflects vulnerability or resilience to emotional disorders. The current study examines whether the 5‐HTTLPR polymorphism is associated with attentional biases for negative word stimuli. Methods : Unmedicated, young adults with low current depression and anxiety symptoms (N=106) were genotyped for the 5‐HTTLPR, including the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs25531 in the long allele of the 5‐HTTLPR. Participants then completed a standard dot‐probe task that measured attentional bias toward anxiety, dysphoric, and self‐esteem words. Results: The L A L A allele group demonstrated an attentional bias away from negative word stimuli. This attentional bias was absent among the S/L G carriers. Conclusions : These findings replicate previous work and suggest that 5‐HTTLPR L A homozygotes possess a protective attentional bias that may decrease susceptibility to depression and anxiety. Depression and Anxiety, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.