Early Family Environment, Current Adversity, the Serotonin Transporter Promoter Polymorphism, and Depressive Symptomatology

• Published in: Biological psychiatry (1969) 2006-10, Vol.60 (7), p.671-676
• Main Authors: Taylor, Shelley E., Way, Baldwin M., Welch, William T., Hilmert, Clayton J., Lehman, Barbara J., Eisenberger, Naomi I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5-HTTLPR; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Depression; Depressive Disorder - etiology; Depressive Disorder - genetics; Depressive Disorder - psychology; early family environment; Family Relations; Female; gene/environment interaction; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mood disorders; Polymorphism, Genetic; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics; Serotonin transporter; Social Environment; stress; Stress, Psychological - complications; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0006-3223; 1873-2402
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.04.019

Mixed evidence has suggested that homozygous carriers of the short allele (s/s) of the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) may be at increased risk for depression, if they have also been exposed to early or current adversity/stress. We address this debate by examining the relation of a stressful early family environment, recent adversity/stress, and the 5-HTTLPR to depressive symptomatology in a normal sample. A nonclinical sample of 118 young adult men and women completed assessments of early family environment, recent stressful events, psychosocial resources, and psychological distress, including depressive symptomatology. The 5-HTTLPR was genotyped using a standard protocol with DNA extracted from oral fluid. A stressful early family environment was significantly related to depressive symptomatology. In addition, gene-by-environment (G×E) interactions were observed between the 5-HTTLPR and both early family environment and current adversity/stress. Individuals homozygous for the short allele had greater depressive symptomatology if they had experienced early or recent adversity but significantly less depressive symptomatology if they reported a supportive early environment or recent positive experiences, compared with participants with the s/l or l/l genotype. Early or current environment, in conjunction with the serotonin transporter polymorphism, predicts depressive symptomatology.