Association of a functional polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene with personality traits in females in a Polish population.

The aim of our study was to determine whether the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism is related to temperamental traits measured using the Formal Characteristics of Behavior - Temperament Inventory (FCB-TI) and personality traits assessed by the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) questionnaire. The sample comprised 200 unrelated females, aged 18-29 years. DNA of the subjects was isolated from buccal epithelial cells, and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was genotyped using PCR. The subjects were divided into SS, SL and LL groups according to their genotype. The differences in results on the endurance scale (F = 11.29, p = 0.001), measured using FCB-TI and neuroticism measured using NEO-FFI (F = 15.32, p = 0.000) between the S group (short-form allele; genotypes SS and SL) and the L group (long-form allele; genotype LL) were statistically significant. Additionally, statistically significant differences between the LL and SS groups, and between the SL and SS groups with respect to 'activity' (FCB-TI) were found (F = 4.5, p = 0.012). These findings support a role of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in the modulation of personality and temperamental traits.