Modification of the Association between Serotonin Transporter Genotype and Risk of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adults by County-Level Social Environment

Citation

Koenen, Karestan C.; Aiello, Allison E.; Bakshis, Erin; Amstadter, Ananda B.; Ruggiero, Kenneth J.; Acierno, Ron; Kilpatrick, Dean G.; Gelernter, Joel E.; & Galea, Sandro (2009). Modification of the Association between Serotonin Transporter Genotype and Risk of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adults by County-Level Social Environment. American Journal of Epidemiology, 169(6), 704-711. PMCID: PMC2727213

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.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwn397

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2009

Journal Title

American Journal of Epidemiology

Author(s)

Koenen, Karestan C.
Aiello, Allison E.
Bakshis, Erin
Amstadter, Ananda B.
Ruggiero, Kenneth J.
Acierno, Ron
Kilpatrick, Dean G.
Gelernter, Joel E.
Galea, Sandro

PMCID

PMC2727213

ORCiD

Aiello - 0000-0001-7029-2537