Lack of association between the 5-HTTLPR and positive screening for mental disorders among children exposed to urban violence and maltreatment

• Main Authors: Giuliana C. Cividanes, Andrea F. Mello, Juliana M. Sallum, Victor Fossaluza, Marcio de Medeiros, Mariana R. Maciel, Luciana P. Cavalcante-Nobrega, Jair J. Mari, Marcelo F. Mello, Nina L. Valentte
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associação Brasileira de Psiquiatria (ABP) 2014-12-01
• Series: Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry
• Subjects: Serotonin transporter polymorphism; child maltreatment; child labor; street children
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-44462014000500277&lng=en&tlng=en

Objective: To ascertain whether genetic variations in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR 44-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism) influence an increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents exposed to high levels of violence. Methods: Saliva samples were collected from a group of children who were working on the streets and from their siblings who did not work on the streets. DNA was extracted from the saliva samples and analyzed for 5-HTTLPR polymorphism genotypes. Results: One hundred and seventy-seven children between the ages of 7 and 14 years were analyzed (114 child workers and 63 siblings). Data on socioeconomic conditions, mental symptoms, and presence and severity of maltreatment and urban violence were collected using a sociodemographic inventory and clinical instruments. There was no positive correlation between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and presence of mental symptoms in our sample, although the children were exposed to high levels of abuse, neglect, and urban violence. Conclusions: Despite previous studies that associated adult psychiatric disorders with the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and a history of childhood maltreatment, no such association was found in this sample of children at risk.