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Depression: Genes x Environ? Nope!!!
Uh oh....
"Studies have suggested that the "short" allele of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) produces a genetic vulnerability that interacts with stressful life events to increase risk for depression. In the past few years, this research has been widely publicized and has an almost legendary status in the field. Now, researchers have conducted an elegant meta-analysis of data from 14 studies covering 14,250 subjects. A second meta-analysis covered 10 of the studies with sex-specific, individual-level data (n=10,943). "The investigators recoded the data to allow for a uniform approach consistent with the first study that identified an association, by Caspi and colleagues (JW Psychiatry Oct 8 2003). Similar to previous studies, the gene had no primary effect on risk for depression in either meta-analysis. The number of adverse life events robustly increased depression risk. Most important, however, neither meta-analysis found an interaction between the gene and life events that increased depression risk." Peter Byrne, MD, a very sharp shrink, doesn't think the negative case is made yet. Stay tuned! Risch N et al. Interaction between the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR), stressful life events, and risk of depression: A meta-analysis. JAMA 2009 Jun 17; 301:2462. Http://psychiatry.jwatch.org/cgi/con...?q=featured_jp |
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