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Modification of the association between serotonin transporter genotype and risk of posttraumatic stress disorder in adults by county-level social environment.

Abstract
Although both genetic factors and features of the social environment are important predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there are few data examining gene-social environment interactions in studies of PTSD. The authors examined whether features of the social environment (county-level crime rate and unemployment) modified the association between the serotonin protein gene (SLC6A4) promoter variant (5-HTTLPR) and risk of current PTSD in a sample of 590 participants from the 2004 Florida Hurricane Study. Interviews conducted in 2005 were used to obtain individual-level risk factor measures and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, PTSD diagnoses. DNA was extracted from salivary samples. County-level crime and unemployment rates were assessed from Federal Bureau of Investigation and US Census data, respectively. There was a significant interaction between 5-HTTLPR genotype and both crime rate (odds ratio = 2.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.09, 6.57) and unemployment rate (odds ratio = 3.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.42, 9.50) in logistic regression models predicting PTSD risk, after adjustment for individual-level determinants of PTSD. Stratified analyses indicated that the "s" allele of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was associated with decreased risk of PTSD in low-risk environments (low crime/unemployment rates) but increased risk of PTSD in high-risk environments. These results suggest that social environment modifies the effect of 5-HTTLPR genotype on PTSD risk.
AuthorsKarestan C Koenen, Allison E Aiello, Erin Bakshis, Ananda B Amstadter, Kenneth J Ruggiero, Ron Acierno, Dean G Kilpatrick, Joel Gelernter, Sandro Galea
JournalAmerican journal of epidemiology (Am J Epidemiol) Vol. 169 Issue 6 Pg. 704-11 (Mar 15 2009) ISSN: 1476-6256 [Electronic] United States
PMID19228812 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
Chemical References
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
Topics
  • Aged
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Cyclonic Storms
  • Female
  • Florida (epidemiology)
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Life Change Events
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins (genetics)
  • Social Environment
  • Social Support
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic (epidemiology, ethnology)
  • Unemployment (psychology, statistics & numerical data)

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