Serotonin Genotype Linked to Stress, Depression

Stress is happening all the time in our daily lives. When people talk about being “stressed-out,” they’re really talking about being overstressed. Distress happens when stress is allowed to build without release or when someone is especially sensitive to the effects of stress.

Science is constantly seeking more specific clues as to what causes hypersensitivity to stress. Certain general factors have been identified, such as childhood conditioning, temperament, gender, and heredity, but researchers are still at a loss to explain the exact ways in which these factors work together to create a greater sensitivity to stress in certain individuals. A new study may have found a link between the serotonin transport protein 5-HTT and stress sensitivity.

The study, performed at the School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, took a look at the role that a short variant of 5-HTT plays in an increased likelihood of depression in the face of significant life stress and a stronger emotional reaction to stimuli that triggers fear. Scientists wanted to see if this short variant affected actual coping strategies, leaving those with this genotype of 5-HTT more susceptible to emotional distress.

They assessed 127 individuals’ coping strategies. Ten years later, the researchers took DNA from each of the participants and determined which ones had the shorter 5-HTT variant. The results showed that this 5-HTT protein is linked with decreased use of problem-solving strategies.

In effect, this means that this single protein may be at least partially responsible for decreased ability to cope with everyday life stress, which may cause depression in stressful situations.

The presence of the shorter 5-HTT genotype also appeared to have a greater effect on men than on women.

5-HTT helps transport the neurotransmitter serotonin to serotonin receptor sites. Serotonin has been linked to mood control, and lower levels of serotonin may lead to depression. If someone has a shorter 5-HTT genotype, their 5-HTT levels may be insufficient, reducing the amount of available serotonin and increasing the risk of depression. This study is one more building block in the case for chemical imbalance as an explanation for depression.

This may point to a need for supplementation with 5-HTT for those dealing with stress-induced depression. If someone with the short variant 5-HTT increases levels of available 5-HTT in the body, they may increase levels of available serotonin, thus better regulating their mood.

© Copyright 2007 Insight Journal Online Magazine.

Join the Discussion:

Discuss and ask questions in our community forums

Recommended Links:

Sign up for our FREE Health and Wellness Newsletter

Depression Learning Center [InsightJournal.com]
Stress Learning Center [InsightJournal.com]
Featured Article: Depression and Anxiety: Breakdowns in the 7 Aspects of Wellness
What is Chemical Imbalance? [InsightJournal.com]
News: Are Cell Phones Progress-Or More Stress? [InsightJournal.com]
News: Recent Study Finds Link Between Stress and Acne [InsightJournal.com]
Study: Associations Between 5-HTT Genotypes and Coping With Stress [NIH.gov]

View More Articles In Category: Stress News