Emotional distress in parents of psychotic patients is modified by serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR)--brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene interactions

Span J Psychol. 2009 Nov;12(2):696-706. doi: 10.1017/s1138741600002067.

Abstract

Caregiving of a family member with psychotic disorder is considered among the most significant stressors and relatives of a sufferer experienced psychological and physical burden that may be the cause of neurotic states. There is growing evidence that sensitivity of individuals to depressogenic effects of stressful factor is moderated by genetic variants of serotonin transporter (SERT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF). We examined the association of the 5-HTTLPR SERT and Val66Met BDNF polymorphisms with signs of depression and anxiety measured with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) in 235 unaffected parents of patients with major psychosis and 102 age-matched controls. A significant effect of the SERT-BDNF interaction on Depression and Psychasthenia scales was found in the group of parents, but not in the control group. Carriers of the Val/Val x SS variant scored higher as compared to other allelic combinations. The results obtained revealed that the SERT-BDNF interactions might moderate the level of anxiety and depression caused by caregiving status in parents of psychotic patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alleles
  • Anxiety / genetics*
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics*
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Cost of Illness*
  • Depression / genetics*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Epistasis, Genetic / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • MMPI / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics*
  • Psychometrics
  • Psychotic Disorders / genetics*
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology
  • Psychotic Disorders / therapy*
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • SLC6A4 protein, human
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins