Debunking the Serotonin Gene–Life Stress Hypothesis?

A meta-analysis finds little evidence that gene–environment interaction increases risk for depression.

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 p…

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Peter Roy-Byrne, MD

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Peter Roy-Byrne, MD

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Debunking the Serotonin Gene–Life Stress Hypothesis?

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Reviewing Author