Gene Causes Depression After Stress
 (Washington, Reuters Health, 7/17/03)

A research team headed by Dr. Avshalom Caspi and Dr. Terrie Moffitt, of both the University of Wisconsin and King's College London, tracked 847 New Zealanders from their births in the l970s into their 20s. The researchers wanted to explore the role of the 5-HTT gene, which controls the recycling of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that affects mood), in depression. DNA tests determined that 17% of the subjects had a pair of "short versions" of the 5-HTT gene; 31% had 2 long versions; and 51% had 1 long and 1 short.. The scientists recorded stressful events in the lives of the participants, including problems with housing, employment, finances, health and relationships from ages 21 to 26. At age 26, 17% of the participants had been diagnosed with major depression in the past year and 3% were potentially suicidal. After analyzing the data, the scientists concluded that subjects with 2 long copies of the 5-HTT gene were more resilient and less likely to succumb to depression following multiple stressful life events (like job loss, divorce etc.) than those with either one or two short copies of the gene.