Serotonin transporter gene and childhood trauma - a G × E effect on anxiety sensitivity

• Published in: Depression and anxiety Vol. 28; no. 12; pp. 1048 - 1057
• Main Authors: Klauke, Benedikt, Deckert, Jürgen, Reif, Andreas, Pauli, Paul, Zwanzger, Peter, Baumann, Christian, Arolt, Volker, Glöckner-Rist, Angelika, Domschke, Katharina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 21.12.2011
• Subjects: 5-HTTLPR; Adult; Anxiety - genetics; Anxiety - psychology; Anxiety Disorders - etiology; Anxiety Disorders - genetics; anxiety sensitivity; Child; Child Abuse - psychology; childhood trauma; Female; Gene-Environment Interaction; Genotype; Humans; Male; Models, Statistical; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Genetic; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics; serotonin transporter gene; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1091-4269; 1520-6394
• DOI: 10.1002/da.20840

Background: Genetic factors and environmental factors are assumed to interactively influence the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. Thus, a gene–environment interaction (G × E) study was conducted with respect to anxiety sensitivity (AS) as a promising intermediate phenotype of anxiety disorders. Method: Healthy subjects (N = 363) were assessed for AS, childhood maltreatment (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), and genotyped for functional serotonin transporter gene variants (5‐HTTLPR/5‐HTT rs25531). The influence of genetic and environmental variables on AS and its subdimensions was determined by a step‐wise hierarchical regression and a multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) model. Results: A significant G × E effect of the more active 5‐HTT genotypes and childhood maltreatment on AS was observed. Furthermore, genotype (LL)–childhood trauma interaction particularly influenced somatic AS subdimensions, whereas cognitive subdimensions were affected by childhood maltreatment only. Conclusions: Results indicate a G × E effect of the more active 5‐HTT genotypes and childhood maltreatment on AS, with particular impact on its somatic subcomponent. Depression and Anxiety, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.