Serotonin transporter gene and childhood trauma - A G*E effect on anxiety sensitivity

Background: Genetic factors and environmental factors are assumed to interactively influence the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. Thus, a geneenvironment interaction (G x E) study was conducted with respect to anxiety sensitivity (AS) as a promising intermediate phenotype of anxiety disorders. Method: Healthy subjects (N = 363) were assessed for AS, childhood maltreatment (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), and genotyped for functional serotonin transporter gene variants (5-HTTLPR/5-HTT rs25531). The influence of genetic and environmental variables on AS and its subdimensions was determined by a step-wise hierarchical regression and a multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) model. Results: A significant G x E effect of the more active 5-HTT genotypes and childhood maltreatment on AS was observed. Furthermore, genotype (LL)-childhood trauma interaction particularly influenced somatic AS subdimensions, whereas cognitive subdimensions were affected by childhood maltreatment only. Conclusions: indicate a G x E effect of the more active 5-HTT genotypes and childhood maltreatment on AS, with particular impact on its somatic subcomponent. Depression and Anxiety, 2011. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.