No gene-by-environment interaction of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and childhood maltreatment on anxiety sensitivity in a mixed race adolescent sample. Issue 1 (1st January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martin, Lindi; Hemmings, Sian Megan Joanna; Kidd, Martin; Seedat, Soraya
• Is Part Of: European journal of psychotraumatology. Volume 9:Issue 1(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-01-01
• Subjects: Anxiety sensitivity -- childhood trauma -- childhood maltreatment -- adolescents -- genetics -- gene-environment -- BDNF Val66Met; sensibilidad ansiosa -- trauma infantil -- maltrato infantil -- adolescentes -- genética -- gen-ambiente -- Val66Met del BDNF; 焦虑敏感度 -- 童年创伤 -- 童年虐待 -- 青少年 -- 遗传学 -- 基因 - 环境 -- BDNF Val66Met; We assessed the interactive effect of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and childhood maltreatment on anxiety sensitivity in adolescents. A main effect of childhood maltreatment on anxiety sensitivity was evident, however, no main effect of BDNF genotype on anxiety sensitivity was revealed. No significant G x E (BDNF Val66Met by childhood maltreatment) effect on anxiety sensitivity was evident.; Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Periodicals; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 616.8521
• DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2018.1472987
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2000-8198

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : Anxiety disorders in youth are attributable to multiple causal mechanisms, comprising biological vulnerabilities, such as genetics and temperament, and unfavourable environmental influences, such as childhood maltreatment (CM). Objective : A gene-environment (G x E) interaction study was conducted to determine the interactive effect of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and CM to increase susceptibility to anxiety sensitivity (AS) in a sample of mixed race adolescents. Method : Participants ( n = 308, mean age = 15.8 years) who were all secondary school students and who completed measures for AS and CM were genotyped for the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to assess G x E influences on AS. Age and gender were included in the models as covariates as age was significantly associated with AS total score ( p < .05), and females had significantly higher AS scores than males ( p < .05). Results : A main effect of CM on AS was evident ( p < .05), however, no main effect of BDNF genotype on AS was observed ( p > .05). A non-significant G x E effect on AS was revealed ( p < .05). Conclusions : Our results suggest that CM does not have a moderating role in the relationship between the BDNF Val66Met genotype and the increased risk of anxiety-related phenotypes, such as AS. Given the exploratory nature of this study, findings require replication in larger samples and adjustment for population stratification to further explore the role of BDNF Val66Met and CM on AS in mixed race adolescents.