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Serotonin transporter gene and childhood trauma--a G × E effect on anxiety sensitivity
Benedikt Klauke1, Jürgen Deckert, Andreas Reif
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
Background:
Genetic factors and environmental factors are assumed to interactively influence the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. Thus, a gene-environment interaction (G × E) study was conducted with respect to anxiety sensitivity (AS) as a promising intermediate phenotype of anxiety disorders.
Method:
Healthy subjects (N = 363) were assessed for AS, childhood maltreatment (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), and genotyped for functional serotonin transporter gene variants (5-HTTLPR/5-HTT rs25531). The influence of genetic and environmental variables on AS and its subdimensions was determined by a step-wise hierarchical regression and a multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) model.
Results:
A significant G × E effect of the more active 5-HTT genotypes and childhood maltreatment on AS was observed. Furthermore, genotype (LL)-childhood trauma interaction particularly influenced somatic AS subdimensions, whereas cognitive subdimensions were affected by childhood maltreatment only.
Conclusions:
Results indicate a G × E effect of the more active 5-HTT genotypes and childhood maltreatment on AS, with particular impact on its somatic subcomponent.
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