TY - JOUR
T1 - Examining the relation between the serotonin transporter 5-HTTPLR genotype x trauma exposure interaction on a contemporary phenotypic model of posttraumatic stress symptomatology
T2 - A pilot study
AU - Pietrzak, Robert H.
AU - Galea, Sandro
AU - Southwick, Steven M.
AU - Gelernter, Joel
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by the National Center for Disaster Mental Health Research ( National Institute of Mental Health Grant 5 P60 MH082598 ), Fran H. Norris, Center Director, Sandro Galea, Research Director. Preparation of this report was supported in part by the Clinical Neurosciences Division of the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, a Research Career Development Award to Dr. Pietrzak from the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center at Yale University School of Medicine ( NIA Grant P30AG21342 ), and a private donation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The authors thank Dr. Aryeh Herman for his assistance with data analyses.
PY - 2013/5/15
Y1 - 2013/5/15
N2 - Background: Little is known about the specificity of the interaction of serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR genotype x trauma exposure in relation to contemporary structural models of PTSD symptomatology, which suggest that 4- or 5-factor models provide a better representation of the phenotypic expression of this disorder. Methods: One hundred forty-nine respondents of a representative sample of adults affected by Hurricane Ike were interviewed 2-5 months after this 2008 disaster. Results: After adjustment for age, sex, and ancestral proportion scores, the interaction of 5-HTTPLR genotype x trauma exposure was significantly associated with both severity (β=.40, p<.001) and probable diagnosis (Wald=4.55, p=.033; odds ratio=3.81, 95% CI=1.11-13.03) of Ike-related PTSD. Respondents with the low-expression variant of the 5-HTTPLR polymorphism (S allele carriers) who were highly exposed to Hurricane Ike reported significantly greater severity of PTSD symptoms and were more likely to screen positive for PTSD than respondents homozygous for the L allele who were highly exposed to Hurricane Ike. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that a 5-factor model of intercorrelated re-experiencing, avoidance, numbing, dysphoric arousal, and anxious arousal symptoms provided the best structural representation of PTSD symptomatology. The 5-HTTPLR genotype x exposure interaction was significant only for anxious arousal (β=.44, p<.001) and re-experiencing (β=.35, p<.001) symptoms, but not avoidance, numbing, or dysphoric arousal symptoms (all βs≤.20, all ps>.13). Limitations: The small sample size and employment of self-report measures may limit generalizability of these findings. Conclusions: Results of this pilot study suggest that the low-expression variant of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism modifies risk for PTSD, but that this effect may be specific to anxious arousal and re-experiencing symptoms.
AB - Background: Little is known about the specificity of the interaction of serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR genotype x trauma exposure in relation to contemporary structural models of PTSD symptomatology, which suggest that 4- or 5-factor models provide a better representation of the phenotypic expression of this disorder. Methods: One hundred forty-nine respondents of a representative sample of adults affected by Hurricane Ike were interviewed 2-5 months after this 2008 disaster. Results: After adjustment for age, sex, and ancestral proportion scores, the interaction of 5-HTTPLR genotype x trauma exposure was significantly associated with both severity (β=.40, p<.001) and probable diagnosis (Wald=4.55, p=.033; odds ratio=3.81, 95% CI=1.11-13.03) of Ike-related PTSD. Respondents with the low-expression variant of the 5-HTTPLR polymorphism (S allele carriers) who were highly exposed to Hurricane Ike reported significantly greater severity of PTSD symptoms and were more likely to screen positive for PTSD than respondents homozygous for the L allele who were highly exposed to Hurricane Ike. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that a 5-factor model of intercorrelated re-experiencing, avoidance, numbing, dysphoric arousal, and anxious arousal symptoms provided the best structural representation of PTSD symptomatology. The 5-HTTPLR genotype x exposure interaction was significant only for anxious arousal (β=.44, p<.001) and re-experiencing (β=.35, p<.001) symptoms, but not avoidance, numbing, or dysphoric arousal symptoms (all βs≤.20, all ps>.13). Limitations: The small sample size and employment of self-report measures may limit generalizability of these findings. Conclusions: Results of this pilot study suggest that the low-expression variant of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism modifies risk for PTSD, but that this effect may be specific to anxious arousal and re-experiencing symptoms.
KW - Disaster
KW - Posttraumatic stress disorder
KW - Serotonin transporter gene
KW - Trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84876978918&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2012.11.003
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2012.11.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 23183127
AN - SCOPUS:84876978918
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 148
SP - 123
EP - 128
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
IS - 1
ER -