Citation

Jenness M A JL, Hankin Ph D BL, Abela JRZ, Young JF, Smolen Ph D A. Depress. Anxiety 2011; 28(12): 1074-1080.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado. jjenness@du.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/da.20904

PMID

22058064

PMCID

PMC3229659

Abstract

Background: Previous research, predominantly with adults, has shown that the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) interacts with stress (G × E) to predict depressive symptoms; however, few G × E studies have been conducted with youth using rigorous methods, particularly a prospective design and contextual interview to assess stress. This study examined the interaction between 5-HTTLPR and stress, both chronic and episodic, to predict longitudinal change in depressive symptoms among children and adolescents. Methods: A general community sample of youth (N = 200; 57% girls; mean age: 12.09 years old) was genotyped for 5-HTTLPR (rs 25531) at baseline. They were interviewed via contextual stress procedures to ascertain chronic family stress and episodic stressors and completed depressive symptoms questionnaires at baseline and 6 months later. Results: A significant G × E showed that chronic family stress predicted prospective increases in depressive symptoms over 6 months among youth possessing the high-risk S allele. This G × E was not found for episodic stressors occurring in the last 6 months. There was no moderation by sex or pubertal status. Conclusions: These findings advance knowledge on G × E effects in depression among youth. This is the first study to show that chronic family stress, but not episodic stressors, when ascertained by rigorous stress interview, interacts with 5-HTTLPR to prospectively predict depressive symptoms among children and adolescents. Depression and Anxiety 0:1-7, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en