BACKGROUND: We sought to ascertain the strength of evidence for association between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and unipolar depression. METHOD: We applied meta-analytic techniques to data from relevant published studies, and obtained an estimate of the likely magnitude of effect of any association. We also tested for possible publication bias, and explored the impact of various study design characteristics on the magnitude of the observed effect size. RESULTS: Meta-analysis indicated evidence of a small but statistically significant association between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and unipolar depression [odds ratio (OR) 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.12]. This remained significant when data from samples of European and East Asian ancestry were analyzed separately. In all cases there was evidence of significant between-study heterogeneity, although the observed associations were robust to the application of a random-effects framework. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the presence of a small effect of a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter promoter on susceptibility to depression. However, we caution that it is possible that the effect has an artifactual basis, rather than a biological origin.
BACKGROUND: We sought to ascertain the strength of evidence for association between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and unipolar depression. METHOD: We applied meta-analytic techniques to data from relevant published studies, and obtained an estimate of the likely magnitude of effect of any association. We also tested for possible publication bias, and explored the impact of various study design characteristics on the magnitude of the observed effect size. RESULTS: Meta-analysis indicated evidence of a small but statistically significant association between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and unipolar depression [odds ratio (OR) 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.12]. This remained significant when data from samples of European and East Asian ancestry were analyzed separately. In all cases there was evidence of significant between-study heterogeneity, although the observed associations were robust to the application of a random-effects framework. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the presence of a small effect of a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter promoter on susceptibility to depression. However, we caution that it is possible that the effect has an artifactual basis, rather than a biological origin.
Authors: Danielle M Dick; Arpana Agrawal; Matthew C Keller; Amy Adkins; Fazil Aliev; Scott Monroe; John K Hewitt; Kenneth S Kendler; Kenneth J Sher Journal: Perspect Psychol Sci Date: 2015-01
Authors: Wouter J Peyrot; Sandra Van der Auwera; Yuri Milaneschi; Conor V Dolan; Pamela A F Madden; Patrick F Sullivan; Jana Strohmaier; Stephan Ripke; Marcella Rietschel; Michel G Nivard; Niamh Mullins; Grant W Montgomery; Anjali K Henders; Andrew C Heat; Helen L Fisher; Erin C Dunn; Enda M Byrne; Tracy A Air; Bernhard T Baune; Gerome Breen; Douglas F Levinson; Cathryn M Lewis; Nick G Martin; Elliot N Nelson; Dorret I Boomsma; Hans J Grabe; Naomi R Wray; Brenda W J H Penninx Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2017-09-21 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Marcus R Munafò; Rachel M Freathy; Susan M Ring; Beate St Pourcain; George Davey Smith Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2010-11-24 Impact factor: 4.244