Publications [#339482] of Karen Sugden

Journal Articles

1. Caspi, A; Sugden, K; Moffitt, TE; Taylor, A; Craig, IW; Harrington, H; McClay, J; Mill, J; Martin, J; Braithwaite, A; Poulton, R (2003). Influence of life stress on depression: moderation by a polymorphism in the 5-HTT gene.. Science (New York, N.Y.), 301(5631), 386-389. [doi]
   (last updated on 2023/06/01)

   Abstract:
   In a prospective-longitudinal study of a representative birth cohort, we tested why stressful experiences lead to depression in some people but not in others. A functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter (5-HT T) gene was found to moderate the influence of stressful life events on depression. Individuals with one or two copies of the short allele of the 5-HT T promoter polymorphism exhibited more depressive symptoms, diagnosable depression, and suicidality in relation to stressful life events than individuals homozygous for the long allele. This epidemiological study thus provides evidence of a gene-by-environment interaction, in which an individual's response to environmental insults is moderated by his or her genetic makeup.