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Neurotrophic gene polymorphisms and response to psychological therapy
K J Lester1, J L Hudson, M Tropeano
1King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK. kathryn.lester@kcl.ac.uk
Translational Psychiatry
|July 27, 2012
Summary
Genetic markers may predict response to cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). Children with a specific nerve growth factor (NGF) gene variant showed better anxiety treatment outcomes. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene variants did not predict CBT response.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Therapy genetics, the study of genetic influences on psychological therapy response, is an emerging field.
- Neurotrophic genes like NGF and BDNF are crucial for synaptic plasticity, stress response, and mood regulation.
- Genetic variations in these genes have been linked to anxiety phenotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in NGF (rs6330) and BDNF (rs6265) genes predict treatment response in children with anxiety disorders receiving cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 374 children with anxiety disorders of white European ancestry from the UK and Australia participated.
- Participants underwent manualized CBT treatment, and DNA was collected via buccal swabs.
- Treatment response was evaluated post-treatment and at follow-up, with genetic association analyses performed.
Main Results:
- Children with one or more copies of the T allele of the NGF rs6330 polymorphism were significantly more likely to be free of their primary anxiety diagnosis at follow-up (OR = 0.60, P = 0.005).
- This association remained significant after adjusting for relevant covariates (OR = 0.62, P = 0.019).
- No significant association was found between BDNF rs6265 genotype and response to CBT.
Conclusions:
- The NGF rs6330 polymorphism may serve as a predictive marker for treatment success in childhood anxiety disorders treated with CBT.
- These findings suggest that genetic information has the potential to personalize psychotherapeutic interventions.
- Further research is needed to validate these genetic markers in diverse populations.
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