TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of family structure, the TPH2 G-703T and the 5-HTTLPR serotonergic genes upon affective problems in children aged 10-14 years
AU - Nobile, Maria
AU - Rusconi, Marianna
AU - Bellina, Monica
AU - Marino, Cecilia
AU - Giorda, Roberto
AU - Carlet, Ombretta
AU - Vanzin, Laura
AU - Molteni, Massimo
AU - Battaglia, Marco
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Background: Both genetic and psychosocial risk factors influence the risk for depression in development. While the impacts of family structure and of serotonergic polymorphisms upon individual differences for affective problems have been investigated separately, they have never been considered together in a gene-environment interplay perspective. Methods: We examined the effects of family structure and two serotonergic polymorphisms (the TPH2 G-703T and the 5-HTTLPR) upon depressive symptoms assessed by the new CBCL/6-18 DSM-oriented Affective Problems scale in a generad population sample of 607 Italian children aged 10-14 years. Results: Belonging to'one-parent'families, the TPH2 G-703T 'G variant', and the 5-HTTLPR 'short' alleles were associated - both alone and in apparent gene-by-environment interaction - with higher Affective Problems scores. As predicted by quantitative genetics theory, both polymorphisms contributed with a small effect size, while 'family structure' had a moderate effect size. Conclusions: A putative hazard factor impinging on individual risk at the family-wide level, namely family structure, appears to act interactively with two pivotal serotonergic genes in heightening risk for Affective Problems. Although it remains to be demonstrated that belonging to a one- rather than a two-parent family has true environmental causal effects on Affective Problems, these data may contribute to identify/prevent risk for depression in childhood
AB - Background: Both genetic and psychosocial risk factors influence the risk for depression in development. While the impacts of family structure and of serotonergic polymorphisms upon individual differences for affective problems have been investigated separately, they have never been considered together in a gene-environment interplay perspective. Methods: We examined the effects of family structure and two serotonergic polymorphisms (the TPH2 G-703T and the 5-HTTLPR) upon depressive symptoms assessed by the new CBCL/6-18 DSM-oriented Affective Problems scale in a generad population sample of 607 Italian children aged 10-14 years. Results: Belonging to'one-parent'families, the TPH2 G-703T 'G variant', and the 5-HTTLPR 'short' alleles were associated - both alone and in apparent gene-by-environment interaction - with higher Affective Problems scores. As predicted by quantitative genetics theory, both polymorphisms contributed with a small effect size, while 'family structure' had a moderate effect size. Conclusions: A putative hazard factor impinging on individual risk at the family-wide level, namely family structure, appears to act interactively with two pivotal serotonergic genes in heightening risk for Affective Problems. Although it remains to be demonstrated that belonging to a one- rather than a two-parent family has true environmental causal effects on Affective Problems, these data may contribute to identify/prevent risk for depression in childhood
KW - Affective disorders
KW - Children
KW - Depression
KW - Divorce
KW - Family
KW - Gene-environment interaction
KW - Serotonin
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01958.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01958.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 19175813
AN - SCOPUS:68149132933
VL - 50
SP - 317
EP - 325
JO - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
JF - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
SN - 0021-9630
IS - 3
ER -