Olsson, CA, Byrnes, GB, Lotfi-Miri, M, Collins, V, Williamson, R, Patton, C and Anney, Richard ![]() |
Abstract
The serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) encodes a transmembrane protein that plays an important role in regulating serotonergic neurotransmission and related aspects of mood and behaviour. The short allele of a 44 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism (S-allele) within the promoter region of the 5-HTT gene (5-HTTLPR) confers lower transcriptional activity relative to the long allele (L-allele) and may act to modify the risk of serotonin-mediated outcomes such as anxiety and substance use behaviours. The purpose of this study was to determine whether (or not) 5-HTTLPR genotypes moderate known associations between attachment style and adolescent anxiety and alcohol use outcomes. Participants were drawn from an eight-wave study of the mental and behavioural health of a cohort of young Australians followed from 14 to 24 years of age (Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study, 1992 - present). No association was observed within low-risk attachment settings. However, within risk settings for heightened anxiety (ie, insecurely attached young people), the odds of persisting ruminative anxiety (worry) decreased with each additional copy of the S-allele (approx30% per allele: OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62–0.97, P=0.029). Within risk settings for binge drinking (ie, securely attached young people), the odds of reporting persisting high-dose alcohol consumption (bingeing) decreased with each additional copy of the S-allele (approx35% per allele: OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.64–0.86, P<0.001). Our data suggest that the S-allele is likely to be important in psychosocial development, particularly in those settings that increase risk of anxiety and alcohol use problems.
Item Type: | Article |
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Date Type: | Publication |
Status: | Published |
Schools: | MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics (CNGG) Medicine |
Subjects: | R Medicine > R Medicine (General) |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | 5-HTTLPR, gene–environment interaction, adolescence, anxiety, alcohol |
Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group |
ISSN: | 1359-4184 |
Last Modified: | 31 Oct 2022 10:32 |
URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/85277 |
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