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Family Based Association Analyses between the Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and Neuroticism, Anxiety and Depression

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Abstract

We studied the association between the short/long promotor-based length polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and neuroticism, anxiety and depression. Subjects included twins, their siblings and parents from the Netherlands Twin Register (559 parents and 1,245 offspring). Subjects had participated between one and five times in a survey study measuring neuroticism, anxiety and depression. Offspring of these families were also approached to participate in a psychiatric interview diagnosing DSM-IV major depression. Within-family and total association between 5-HTTLPR and these traits were tested. Only three of the 36 tests showed a significant effect of 5-HTTLPR (P < 0.05). These effects were in opposite directions, i.e. both negative and positive regression coefficients were found for the s allele. No additive effect of the s allele was found for DSM-IV depression. Our results strongly suggest that there is no straightforward association between 5-HTTLPR and neuroticism, anxiety and depression.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by NWO/ZonMW (940-37-024, 904-61-193, 985-10-002, 575-25-006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, Amsterdam, 1081 BT, The Netherlands

    Christel M. Middeldorp, Eco J. C. de Geus, A. Leo Beem, Jouke-Jan Hottenga & Dorret I. Boomsma

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Christel M. Middeldorp

  3. Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Eco J. C. de Geus, A. Leo Beem & Jouke-Jan Hottenga

  4. Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Nico Lakenberg & P. Eline Slagboom

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  1. Christel M. Middeldorp
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  2. Eco J. C. de Geus
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Correspondence to Christel M. Middeldorp.

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Edited by Stacey Cherny

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Middeldorp, C.M., de Geus, E.J.C., Beem, A.L. et al. Family Based Association Analyses between the Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and Neuroticism, Anxiety and Depression. Behav Genet 37, 294–301 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-006-9139-7

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