A paradoxical association of an oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism: Early-life adversity and vulnerability to depression
Several prosocial behaviors may be influenced by the hormone oxytocin. In line with this perspective, the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs53576, has been associated with a broad range of social behaviors. In this regard, the G allele of the OXTR SNP has been acc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2013-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnins.2013.00128/full |
| _version_ | 1818355921859903488 |
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| author | Robyn Jane McQuaid Opal Arilla McInnis John D Stead Kimberly eMatheson Kimberly eMatheson Hymie eAnisman |
| author_facet | Robyn Jane McQuaid Opal Arilla McInnis John D Stead Kimberly eMatheson Kimberly eMatheson Hymie eAnisman |
| author_sort | Robyn Jane McQuaid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Several prosocial behaviors may be influenced by the hormone oxytocin. In line with this perspective, the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs53576, has been associated with a broad range of social behaviors. In this regard, the G allele of the OXTR SNP has been accompanied by beneficial attributes such as increased empathy, optimism and trust. In the current study among university students (N = 288), it was shown that early-life maltreatment was associated with depressive symptoms, and that the OXTR genotype moderated this relationship, such that under high levels of childhood maltreatment, only individuals with GG/GA genotype demonstrated increased depressive symptomatology compared to those with the AA genotype. In addition, the role of distrust in mediating the relation between childhood maltreatment and depression seemed to be more important among G allele carriers compared to individuals with the AA genotype. Thus, a breach in trust (i.e. in the case of early-life abuse or neglect) may have a more deleterious effect among G carriers, who have been characterized as more prosocial and attuned to social cues. The data suggested that G carriers of the OXTR might favor social sensitivity and thus might have been more vulnerable to the effects of early-life adversity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:49:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-028869173ef14b558480766b474eaac7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:49:00Z |
| publishDate | 2013-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-028869173ef14b558480766b474eaac72022-12-21T23:33:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2013-07-01710.3389/fnins.2013.0012857299A paradoxical association of an oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism: Early-life adversity and vulnerability to depressionRobyn Jane McQuaid0Opal Arilla McInnis1John D Stead2Kimberly eMatheson3Kimberly eMatheson4Hymie eAnisman5Carleton UniversityCarleton UniversityCarleton UniversityCarleton UniversityCarleton UniversityCarleton UniversitySeveral prosocial behaviors may be influenced by the hormone oxytocin. In line with this perspective, the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs53576, has been associated with a broad range of social behaviors. In this regard, the G allele of the OXTR SNP has been accompanied by beneficial attributes such as increased empathy, optimism and trust. In the current study among university students (N = 288), it was shown that early-life maltreatment was associated with depressive symptoms, and that the OXTR genotype moderated this relationship, such that under high levels of childhood maltreatment, only individuals with GG/GA genotype demonstrated increased depressive symptomatology compared to those with the AA genotype. In addition, the role of distrust in mediating the relation between childhood maltreatment and depression seemed to be more important among G allele carriers compared to individuals with the AA genotype. Thus, a breach in trust (i.e. in the case of early-life abuse or neglect) may have a more deleterious effect among G carriers, who have been characterized as more prosocial and attuned to social cues. The data suggested that G carriers of the OXTR might favor social sensitivity and thus might have been more vulnerable to the effects of early-life adversity.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnins.2013.00128/fullDepressionOxytocinSNPstressmaltreatmentdistrust |
| spellingShingle | Robyn Jane McQuaid Opal Arilla McInnis John D Stead Kimberly eMatheson Kimberly eMatheson Hymie eAnisman A paradoxical association of an oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism: Early-life adversity and vulnerability to depression Frontiers in Neuroscience Depression Oxytocin SNP stress maltreatment distrust |
| title | A paradoxical association of an oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism: Early-life adversity and vulnerability to depression |
| title_full | A paradoxical association of an oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism: Early-life adversity and vulnerability to depression |
| title_fullStr | A paradoxical association of an oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism: Early-life adversity and vulnerability to depression |
| title_full_unstemmed | A paradoxical association of an oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism: Early-life adversity and vulnerability to depression |
| title_short | A paradoxical association of an oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism: Early-life adversity and vulnerability to depression |
| title_sort | paradoxical association of an oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism early life adversity and vulnerability to depression |
| topic | Depression Oxytocin SNP stress maltreatment distrust |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnins.2013.00128/full |
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