A variable-number-tandem-repeat of the serotonin transporter gene and anxiety disorders

1. A polymorphism of the variable-number-tandem-repeat (VNTR) in the second intron of the serotonin transporter (ST) gene, which has been reported to be associated with major depression, was studied in anxiety disorders. 2. The VNTR of the human ST gene was compared between 103 patients with anxiety and 106 controls. 3. The frequency of the allele containing 12 copies of the VNTR element (STin2.12) was significantly higher in the combined patient group (p = 0.027), and among patients with OCD (p = 0.0326), and GAD (p = 0.0123), in comparison with in controls. 4. The presence of the STin2.12 allele was significantly associated with the risk of combined anxiety disorders (odds ratio = 2.06, 95% CI 1.09-3.90), OCD (10.2, 1.34-77.4), and GAD (3.61, 1.23-10.6).