Does psychological resilience buffer against the link between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and depression following stress

• Published in: Physiology & behavior 2017-10, Vol.180, p.53-59
• Main Authors: Sharpley, Christopher F., Christie, David R.H., Bitsika, Vicki, Andronicos, Nicholas M., Agnew, Linda L., McMillan, Mary E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cancer; Depression; Depression - etiology; Depression - genetics; Depression - psychology; Female; Genes; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics; Genotype; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Resilience; Resilience, Psychological; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics; Stress; Stress, Psychological - complications
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.07.029

The comparative strength of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism as a ‘predictor’ of depression after major stress, versus the ‘protective’ effect of psychological resilience (PR) against depression after major stress, was tested in a homogeneous sample of older men who had all received a diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer. Results supported the association between PR and lower depression after stress, but did not support the association between the 5-HTTLPR and elevated depression after stress. Examination of PR at scale, factor, and item level identified the specific PR-related behaviour that was the most powerful predictor of low depression. These data suggest that the carriage of the short form of the 5-HTTLPR may negate the protective effect of PR against depression in these men, or that PR may nullify the depression vulnerability of this form of the 5-HTTLPR. These findings may explain some of the ‘null’ findings regarding the link between the 5-HTTLPR and depression in the wider literature by arguing for an interaction between these two factors in the association between major stress and depression. •5-HTTLPR has been inconsistently associated with depression after stress.•Psychological resilience (PR) may have a protective effect against depression.•Men with prostate cancer often become depressed.•PR interacts with 5-HTTLPR to reduce stress-related depression in these men.