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Alcoholism and psychiatry research : Journal on psychiatric research and addictions, Vol. 51 No. 2, 2015.

Review article

Serotonin Transporter Polymorphism in Relation to Depression

Vjekoslav Peitl orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-4163-6411 ; University Department of Psychiatry, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center
Dalibor Karlović ; University Department of Psychiatry, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center
Mario Štefanović ; University Department of Chemistry, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital
Nada Vrkić ; University Department of Chemistry, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital

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Abstract

Serotonin is regarded as one of the most important factors in modern psychiatry and a significant amount of research is associated with that neurotransmitter in some way. Serotonin transporter and its various
polymorphisms are implied to be connected with various psychiatric disorders, mostly depression and suicide. In light of that fact, this review article will try to address new and current data regarding serotonin transporter polymorphisms and their association with depression. As this area of research in psychiatry is constantly growing and nowadays incorporates various other factors than was the case previously it was necessary to provide a brief overview of those factors. Therefore, data regarding serotonin transporter polymorphisms and its relation with gene-environment interactions, biological stress reactivity and personality traits and their possible combined effects on depression are discussed. No matter how big is the quantum of knowledge and research regarding serotonin, the only constant finding when analyzing the possible association of serotonin transporter polymorphism and depression are inconsistent conclusions. Therefore it can be concluded that molecular and neural mechanisms that underlie the interplay of genes, environmental adversity and personality traits that constitute disease risk remain incompletely understood. Due to these inconsistent
conclusions, further genotyping of SLC6A4 and other genes is necessary, as well as studies performed on bigger samples of participants. Factors like life stress and environmental factors, which may contribute to increased vulnerability in susceptible individuals, should also be more extensively addressed as they may prove be the key to timely treatment and effective preventive strategies.

Keywords

serotonin transporter; serotonin transporter polymorphism; depression

Hrčak ID:

151663

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/151663

Publication date:

18.12.2015.

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