From: gts (gts@optexinc.com)
Date: Wed Oct 09 2002 - 09:23:48 MDT
This research should be especially interesting to you, Robert. In this
study it was found that people with a certain gene polymorphism were
7.54 times more likely to suffer from seasonal mood disorders. The
relevant gene codes for the synthesis of the 5-HT2A receptor (one of
several serotonin receptors).
ABSTRACT:
Variability in the 5-HT(2A) receptor gene is associated with seasonal
pattern in major depression.
Mol Psychiatry 2001 Mar;6(2):239-42 (ISSN: 1359-4184)
Arias B; Gutierrez B; Pintor L; Gasto C; Fananas L
Unitat d'Antropologia, Departament de Biologia Animal, Facultat de
Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona,
Spain.
The 102-T/C polymorphism of the 5-HT(2A) receptor gene was analysed in
159 patients with major depression and 164 unrelated and healthy
controls using a case-control design. Allele and genotype frequencies
did not differ between cases and controls. No differences according to
sex, age of onset, melancholia, suicidal behaviour or family history of
psychiatric illness were found. However, genotype distributions
significantly differed between patients with seasonal pattern in their
episodes (MDS) and patients with no seasonal pattern (N-MDS) (chi(2) =
10.63; P = 0.004). A seasonal pattern was 7.57 times more frequent in
102C-allele carriers than in 102T homozygous (95.1% of patients MDS
carried 102C-allele vs 72% of patients N-MDS (chi(2) = 9.45, df=1, P =
0.002; OR = 7.57 (95% CI: 1.65--48.08)). These results suggest that
variation in the 5-HT2A receptor gene may play a role in the development
of major depression with seasonal pattern and support the existence of a
genetic and etiological heterogeneity underlying the diagnosis of major
depression.
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