Effect of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism on affective temperament, depression and body mass index in obesity.
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Many studies show high prevalence of affective disorders in obese patients. Affective temperament is a subclinical manifestation of such conditions. The 5-HTT gene encoding the serotonin transporter may be involved in both mood and eating dysregulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a polymorphism in the 5-HTT gene on affective temperament types, depressive symptoms and Body Mass Index (BMI) in obese patients.


METHODS
This study involved 390 patients (237 females, and 153 males) with obesity. The TEMPS-A questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were used to evaluate affective temperaments and prevalence of depression. DNA was obtained for serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) genotyping.


RESULTS
In obese patients S/S genotype was associated with depressive and L/L with cyclothymic temperament. Subjects with L/L genotype presented significantly higher BMI and greater intensity of depressive symptoms in BDI and HDRS. Females scored higher in anxious and depressive, while males in hyperthymic, cyclothymic and irritable temperaments. Females scored higher in BDI (subjective depression) while males in HDRS (objective depression).


LIMITATIONS
TEMPS-A, BDI and HDRS are frequently used in studies on affective disorders. However, these methods do not examine all dimensions of mood and personality.


CONCLUSIONS
In obese patients S allele of 5-HTTLPR was associated with development of depressive temperament while L allele corresponded with greater obesity and prevalence of depression. Different mechanisms may be involved in manifestation of depression in males and females with obesity.
['Borkowska|A|A|', 'Bieliński|M|M|', 'Szczęsny|W|W|', 'Szwed|K|K|', 'Tomaszewska|M|M|', 'Kałwa|A|A|', 'Lesiewska|N|N|', 'Junik|R|R|', 'Gołębiewski|M|M|', 'Sikora|M|M|', 'Tretyn|A|A|', 'Akiskal|K|K|', 'Akiskal|H|H|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D015992:Body Mass Index D003527:Cyclothymic Disorder D004247:DNA D003863:Depression D005260:Female D005838:Genotype D006801:Humans D007508:Irritable Mood D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D019964:Mood Disorders D009765:Obesity D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins D013694:Temperament D055815:Young Adult
Affective temperament Depression Obesity Serotonin transporter