Serotonergic Genes (5-HTT and HTR1A) and Separation Life Events: Gene-by-Environment Interaction for Panic Disorder

Abstract

Background: The polymorphisms of serotonergic genes (5-HTTLPR and HTR1A rs6295) and separation life events have been studied to find an association with panic disorder, respectively. However, there are no studies that have yet evaluated the interaction effect between serotonergic genes and separation life events for panic disorder. Methods: For this study, 194 panic disorder patients and 172 healthy controls were included for genotyping and environmental factor analysis. Separation life events were assessed using the Stressful Life Events Scale and clinical interviews. To evaluate the potential endophenotypes of panic disorder, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-revised (ASI-R), harm avoidance in the Temperament and Character Inventory (HA), and neuroticism in the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (neuroticism) scales were administered. Results: For 5-HTTLPR and HTR1A rs6295, there was no significant main effect of each genotype on panic disorder alone. However, the number of separation life events and their interaction with 5-HTTLPR showed a statistically significant effect on panic disorder. In addition, the interaction between 5-HTTLPR and the number of separation life events significantly affected the HA for potential endophenotypes. Conclusion: This study could suggest the effect of the interaction between 5-HTTLPR and separation life events on panic disorder and its potential endophenotype.

Emotion regulation in disordered eating: Psychometric properties of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale among Spanish adults and its interrelations with personality and clinical severity

“…Finally, longitudinal studies beginning earlier in the lifespan are needed to fully understand the influence of inherited temperament on the acquisition of emotion regulation strategies and the development of adaptive emotion regulation. There is preliminary evidence to suggest that harm avoidance is an endophenotype (Gottesman et al, 2003 ) for psychological illness (Choe et al, 2013 ; Markett et al, 2013 ; Calati et al, 2014 ), whereas difficulties in emotion regulation are learned responses to emotions that may be attributed to environmental influences to a greater extent (Kanakam et al, 2013 ). However, the precise nature of the relation between harm avoidance and emotion regulation remains unclear.…”

The Genetics of Stress-Related Disorders: PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety Disorders

“…These have been largely limited to the same candidate genes studied in main effect association analyses, with some nominally significant associations reported but conflicting results and inadequate power overall Blaya et al, 2010;Choe et al, 2013;Laucht et al, 2009;Reinelt et al, 2014).…”

Genetic, epigenetic and posttranscriptional mechanisms for treatment of major depression: the 5-HT1A receptor gene as a paradigm

“…For example, life separation events interacted with both 5-HTTLPR and HTR1A rs6295 polymorphisms in panic disorder. 145 Recent stress and the rs6295 G allele increase amygdala reactivity more than either alone. 146 As well, DNA methylation of the C allele has been associated with reduced negative symptom response to antipsychotics in first-episode schizophrenia, 147 which may account for an association with the C allele in 1 study.…”