Therapygenetic effects of 5-HTT LPR on cognitive-behavioral therapy in anxiety disorders: A meta-analysis

• Published in: European neuropsychopharmacology 2021, Vol.44, p.105
• Main Authors: Schiele, Miriam A., Bergström, Jan, Carlbring, Per, Lueken, Ulrike
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CBT; Panic disorder; Psychology; psykologi; Serotonin transporter gene; Therapy outcome; Therapygenetics; Treatment response
• ISSN: 0924-977X; 1873-7862
• DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.01.004

There is a recurring debate on the role of the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region ( 5-HTT LPR) in the moderation of response to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in anxiety disorders. Results, however, are still inconclusive. We here aim to perform a meta-analysis on the role of 5-HTT LPR in the moderation of CBT outcome in anxiety disorders. We investigated both categorical (symptom reduction of at least 50%) and dimensional outcomes from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up. Original data were obtained from ten independent samples (including three unpublished samples) with a total of 2,195 patients with primary anxiety disorder. No significant effects of 5-HTT LPR genotype on categorical or dimensional outcomes at post and follow-up were detected. We conclude that current evidence does not support the hypothesis of 5-HTT LPR as a moderator of treatment outcome for CBT in anxiety disorders. Future research should address whether other factors such as long-term changes or epigenetic processes may explain further variance in these complex gene-environment interactions and molecular-genetic pathways that may confer behavioral change following psychotherapy.