Effects of Stress and Genetic Predisposition on Symptoms of Psychopathology

Data in the literature suggest that the presence of the S allele of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) is associated with an increased risk of developing depression in individuals who have experienced the effects of stress in the recent past. However, there are many reports, including meta-an...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience and behavioral physiology 2023, Vol.53 (1), p.70-80
Main Authors: Knyazev, G. G., Bocharov, A. V., Savostyanov, A. N., Proshina, E. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Behavioral Sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Gene polymorphism
Mental disorders
Neurobiology
Neurosciences
Psychopathology
Serotonin transporter
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Data in the literature suggest that the presence of the S allele of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) is associated with an increased risk of developing depression in individuals who have experienced the effects of stress in the recent past. However, there are many reports, including meta-analyses, which do not confirm this association. This inconsistency in results can be partly explained by the fact that the association between 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms, stressful life events, and symptoms of mental disorders may not be so direct and obvious. Here we report our analysis of the mechanisms of interaction of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism with the level of stressful life events in terms of their influence on the onset of symptoms of mental disorders using intermediate variables regarded as indicators of resting state network connectivity and means of regulating the emotions. Cerebral responses to increased levels of stress were found not to differ in carriers of different alleles of the serotonin transporter gene, though these reactions could reduce the likelihood of depression in carriers of the LL genotype, and, conversely, provoke depression in carriers of the S allele. This difference is explained by the fact that carriers of the LL genotype tend to rethink stressful situations in a less negative light, which prevents the emergence of psychopathology, while stress reactions in carriers of the S allele are accompanied by the appearance of repetitive obsessive thoughts and futile attempts to suppress them, which can ultimately lead to depression.
ISSN:0097-0549
1573-899X
DOI:10.1007/s11055-023-01392-x