Influence of Child Abuse on Adult Depression

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Abstract
Although numerous studies suggest that both genetic and environmental influences contribute substantively to vulnerability to major depressive disorder (MDD), the search for direct genetic influences contributing to the risk for depression has been inconclusive so far. Recent studies1,2 examining genetic variants predisposing to MDD suggest that they may only do so via interaction with environmental variables. Several reports have now replicated the finding that the short allele of a functional repeat polymorphism located in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter locus SLC6A43 increases vulnerability to depression only in the presence of significant adverse life events.1,4-8 Although the serotonin transporter is an attractive genetic candidate for moderating the adverse effects of life events, epidemiological studies clearly indicate that the vulnerability to depression is influenced by several genes.9