5HTT genotype moderates the influence of early institutional deprivation on emotional problems in adolescence: evidence from the English and Romanian Adoptee (ERA) study
5HTT genotype moderates the influence of early institutional deprivation on emotional problems in adolescence: evidence from the English and Romanian Adoptee (ERA) study
Background: a common polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4, 5HTT) has been repeatedly shown to moderate the influence of childhood adversity and stressful life events on the development of psychopathology. Using data from the English and Romanian Adoptee Study, a prospective-longitudinal study of individuals (n = 125) exposed to severe early institutional deprivation (ID), we tested whether the effect of ID on adolescent emotional problems is moderated by 5HTT genotype and stressful life events in adolescence.
Methods: emotional problems were assessed using questionnaire data (age 11), and on the basis of the CAPA diagnostic interview (age 15). Additionally, the number of stressful life events was measured.
Results: there was a significant effect for genotype (p = .003) and a gene x environment interaction (p = .008) that was independent of age at testing. Carriers of the s/l and s/s genotype who experienced severe ID showed the highest emotional problem scores, while l/l homozygotes in the severe ID group showed the lowest overall levels. Furthermore, s/s carriers in the severe ID group who experienced a high number of stressful life events between 11 and 15 years had the largest increases in emotional problem scores, while a low number of stressful life events was associated with the largest decrease (4-way interaction: p = .05).
Conclusions: the effects of severe early ID on emotional problems in adolescence are moderated by 5HTT genotype, and influenced by stressful life events in adolescence.
early institutional deprivation, prospective-longitudinal study, gene–environment interactions, 5-HTTLPR, depression
755-762
Kumsta, Robert
88285030-6a7c-4ef1-ba75-b78e09cd2f1e
Stevens, Suzanne
672d84f4-67c5-4964-9c1f-dc99ca61c1bc
Brookes, Keeley
dc587ce2-1d39-443c-b453-1d61629e929f
Schlotz, Wolff
49499d5e-4ff4-4ad3-b5f7-eec11b25b5db
Castle, Jenny
00ba7ce1-a3f9-473e-8d2d-151a71fee2b5
Beckett, Celia
bff7d3cf-0754-46cd-b441-3e043e9cbb8c
Kreppner, Jana
6a5f447e-1cfe-4654-95b4-e6f89b0275d6
Rutter, Michael
14c45b9c-5f8e-4a19-a6fc-ce40ca498069
Sonuga-Barke, Edmund
bc80bf95-6cf9-4c76-a09d-eaaf0b717635
25 March 2010
Kumsta, Robert
88285030-6a7c-4ef1-ba75-b78e09cd2f1e
Stevens, Suzanne
672d84f4-67c5-4964-9c1f-dc99ca61c1bc
Brookes, Keeley
dc587ce2-1d39-443c-b453-1d61629e929f
Schlotz, Wolff
49499d5e-4ff4-4ad3-b5f7-eec11b25b5db
Castle, Jenny
00ba7ce1-a3f9-473e-8d2d-151a71fee2b5
Beckett, Celia
bff7d3cf-0754-46cd-b441-3e043e9cbb8c
Kreppner, Jana
6a5f447e-1cfe-4654-95b4-e6f89b0275d6
Rutter, Michael
14c45b9c-5f8e-4a19-a6fc-ce40ca498069
Sonuga-Barke, Edmund
bc80bf95-6cf9-4c76-a09d-eaaf0b717635
Kumsta, Robert, Stevens, Suzanne, Brookes, Keeley, Schlotz, Wolff, Castle, Jenny, Beckett, Celia, Kreppner, Jana, Rutter, Michael and Sonuga-Barke, Edmund
(2010)
5HTT genotype moderates the influence of early institutional deprivation on emotional problems in adolescence: evidence from the English and Romanian Adoptee (ERA) study.
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 51 (7), .
(doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02249.x).
Abstract
Background: a common polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4, 5HTT) has been repeatedly shown to moderate the influence of childhood adversity and stressful life events on the development of psychopathology. Using data from the English and Romanian Adoptee Study, a prospective-longitudinal study of individuals (n = 125) exposed to severe early institutional deprivation (ID), we tested whether the effect of ID on adolescent emotional problems is moderated by 5HTT genotype and stressful life events in adolescence.
Methods: emotional problems were assessed using questionnaire data (age 11), and on the basis of the CAPA diagnostic interview (age 15). Additionally, the number of stressful life events was measured.
Results: there was a significant effect for genotype (p = .003) and a gene x environment interaction (p = .008) that was independent of age at testing. Carriers of the s/l and s/s genotype who experienced severe ID showed the highest emotional problem scores, while l/l homozygotes in the severe ID group showed the lowest overall levels. Furthermore, s/s carriers in the severe ID group who experienced a high number of stressful life events between 11 and 15 years had the largest increases in emotional problem scores, while a low number of stressful life events was associated with the largest decrease (4-way interaction: p = .05).
Conclusions: the effects of severe early ID on emotional problems in adolescence are moderated by 5HTT genotype, and influenced by stressful life events in adolescence.
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Published date: 25 March 2010
Keywords:
early institutional deprivation, prospective-longitudinal study, gene–environment interactions, 5-HTTLPR, depression
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Local EPrints ID: 143355
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/143355
ISSN: 0021-9630
PURE UUID: 5fe9d918-1cfb-408a-a2b9-eb809bf3756e
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Date deposited: 08 Apr 2010 13:05
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:53
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Author:
Robert Kumsta
Author:
Suzanne Stevens
Author:
Keeley Brookes
Author:
Wolff Schlotz
Author:
Jenny Castle
Author:
Celia Beckett
Author:
Jana Kreppner
Author:
Michael Rutter
Author:
Edmund Sonuga-Barke
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