Stress-Related Negative Affectivity and Genetically Altered Serotonin Transporter Function

Abstract
It is well known that stressful life events (SLEs) increase risk of depression.1 Because only a small proportion of the exposed individuals2 develop a depressive disorder as a consequence, some individuals may be more sensitive to the depression-inducing effects of SLEs than others.3,4 Factors that have been shown to increase sensitivity to SLEs are the personality trait neuroticism,5-10 childhood adversity,9,11 and indirect measures of genetic risk for depression and anxiety, derived from twin or family studies.12-15