TY - JOUR
T1 - Social supports and serotonin transporter gene moderate depression in maltreated children
AU - Kaufman, Joan
AU - Yang, Bao Zhu
AU - Douglas-Palumberi, Heather
AU - Houshyar, Shadi
AU - Lipschitz, Deborah
AU - Krystal, John H.
AU - Gelernter, Joel
PY - 2004/12/7
Y1 - 2004/12/7
N2 - In this study, measures of the quality and availability of social supports were found to moderate risk for depression associated with a history of maltreatment and the presence of the short (s) allele of the serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR). The present investigation (i) replicates research in adults showing that 5-HTTLPR variation moderates the development of depression after stress, (ii) extends the finding to children, and (iii) demonstrates the ability of social supports to further moderate risk for depression. Maltreated children with the s/s genotype and no positive supports had the highest depression ratings, scores that were twice as high as the non-maltreated comparison children with the same genotype. However, the presence of positive supports reduced risk associated with maltreatment and the s/s genotype, such that maltreated children with this profile had only minimal increases in their depression scores. These findings are consistent with emerging preclinical and clinical data suggesting that the negative sequelae associated with early stress are not inevitable. Risk for negative outcomes may be modified by both genetic and environmental factors, with the quality and availability of social supports among the most important environmental factors in promoting resiliency in maltreated children, even in the presence of a genotype expected to confer vulnerability for psychiatric disorder.
AB - In this study, measures of the quality and availability of social supports were found to moderate risk for depression associated with a history of maltreatment and the presence of the short (s) allele of the serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR). The present investigation (i) replicates research in adults showing that 5-HTTLPR variation moderates the development of depression after stress, (ii) extends the finding to children, and (iii) demonstrates the ability of social supports to further moderate risk for depression. Maltreated children with the s/s genotype and no positive supports had the highest depression ratings, scores that were twice as high as the non-maltreated comparison children with the same genotype. However, the presence of positive supports reduced risk associated with maltreatment and the s/s genotype, such that maltreated children with this profile had only minimal increases in their depression scores. These findings are consistent with emerging preclinical and clinical data suggesting that the negative sequelae associated with early stress are not inevitable. Risk for negative outcomes may be modified by both genetic and environmental factors, with the quality and availability of social supports among the most important environmental factors in promoting resiliency in maltreated children, even in the presence of a genotype expected to confer vulnerability for psychiatric disorder.
KW - Child maltreatment
KW - Gene-by-environment interaction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=10344238087&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=10344238087&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.0404376101
DO - 10.1073/pnas.0404376101
M3 - Article
C2 - 15563601
AN - SCOPUS:10344238087
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 101
SP - 17316
EP - 17321
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IS - 49
ER -