Associations of serotonin transporter genotypes to components of the tripartite model of depression and anxiety

Abstract We evaluated associations between serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) genotypes, affect, and depressive and anxious symptoms, using as context the tripartite model of depression and anxiety. It was hypothesized that the short allele would be associated with generalized negative affect, but not with somatic anxiety or subjective anxiety; the associations between the genotypes, low positive affect, and subclinical depressive symptoms were also explored. Analyses revealed that the 5-HTTLPR genotypes were not associated with depression-specific and anxiety-specific symptoms. There were significant associations between genotypes and general negative affect. These findings need replication, but could have important implications with regards to understanding the 5-HTTLPR gene’s impact at the phenotypic level, as well as to the etiology of depression and anxiety.