@article{121691,
  author = {Noreen Goldman and Dana A. Glei and Yu-Hsuan Lin and Maxine Weinstein},
  title = {The Serotonin Transporter Polymorphism (5-HTTLPR): Allelic Variation and Links with Depressive Symptoms},
  abstract = { <i>Background:</i>~We compare the genotype distribution for the serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in a sample of older Taiwanese adults with samples of various racial and ethnic groups collected in other studies. We also explore interactions among sex, stressors, and 5-HTTLPR genotype on depressive symptoms in our sample.~<i>Methods:</i>~Using a nationally representative sample of 984 Taiwanese aged 53 and older, we model depressive symptoms as a function of 5-HTTLPR genotype and two classes of stressors: lifetime trauma and recent major life events. We test two- and three-way interactions among stressors, 5-HTTLPR, and sex.~<i>\&gt;Results:</i>~This sample exhibits higher frequency of S/S and lower frequency of L/L genotype than Western samples, but the distribution is comparable to those in East Asian populations. Nearly 9\% carry an allele (XL) that has rarely been reported in the literature. Although the gene{\textendash}environment (G{\texttimes}E) interaction with recent major life events is not significant, our results suggest that trauma has a worse effect on depressive symptoms for those with S/S or S/L genotype than for those who do not carry the S allele (P\&lt;0.05). We find no evidence that this G{\texttimes}E interaction varies by sex.~<i>Conclusions:</i>~Previous studies of this G{\texttimes}E interaction have been inconclusive, perhaps because interactions between genotype and stressful events are more prominent under extreme stressors. Our findings underscore the need to move beyond a bi-allelic parameterization of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and raise questions about why East Asian populations exhibit low rates of depression despite a high frequency of the S allele.~ },
  year = {2010},
  journal = {Depression and Anxiety},
  volume = {27},
  pages = {260-269},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/da.20660},
  language = {eng},
}