Serotonin transporter genotype, morning cortisol and subsequent depression in adolescents

Goodyer, Ian M. MD, FRCPsych, FmedSci
Bacon, Alison PhD
Ban, Maria PhD
Croudace, Tim PhD
Herbert, Joe PhD

Ian M. Goodyer, MD, FRCPsych, FmedSci, Alison Bacon, PhD, Developmental Psychiatry Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge; Maria Ban, PhD, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge; Tim Croudace, PhD, Developmental Psychiatry Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge; Joe Herbert, PhD, Department of Physiology, Development and Neurosciences and the Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, Cambridge, UK.

Correspondence: Ian M. Goodyer, Developmental Psychiatry Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK. Email: [email protected]

Declaration of interest

None.

Funding

This work was funded by a Wellcome Trust programme grant awarded to I.M.G. and J.H. T.J.C. is supported by a Career Scientist Award from the Department of Health.

(First received 12 May 2008, final revision 3 November 2008, accepted 9 December 2008)

British Journal of Psychiatry 195(1):p 39-45, July 2009.

Background

The short (s) allele of the serotonin transporter gene promoter (5-HTTLPR) may be associated with exposure to social adversities and the subsequent onset of depressive illness in adulthood.

Aims

To test in adolescents at high risk for depression whether the short ‘s’ allele is associated with levels of morning cortisol and the subsequent onset of a depressive episode.

Method

High-risk adolescents (n = 403) were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR. Salivary samples were obtained on four consecutive school days within 1 h of waking from 393 (97.5%) individuals and 367 (91%) underwent a mental state reassessment at 12 months.

Results

Multilevel analysis revealed higher levels of salivary cortisol in short allele carriers (s/s>s/l>l/l). A subsequent episode of depression was increased in those with higher cortisol and the ‘s’ allele, and independently by depressive symptoms at entry, in both genders.

Conclusions

The short allele of 5-HTTLPR may moderate the association between morning cortisol and the subsequent onset of a depressive episode.