Maternal depressive history, teen 5HTTLPR genotype, and the processing of emotional faces: Exploring mechanisms of risk

Rachel H. Jacobs*, Daniel S. Pine, Michael E. Schoeny, David B. Henry, Jackie K. Gollan, Gregory Moy, Edwin H. Cook, Lauren S. Wakschlag

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Variations in the serotonin transporter gene (5HTTLPR) and biased processing of face-emotion displays both have been implicated in the transmission of depression risk, but little is known about developmental influences on these relationships. Within a community sample of adolescents, we examine whether 5HTTLPR genotype moderates the link between maternal depressive history and errors in face-emotion labeling. When controlling for current levels of depression and anxiety among youth, a two-way interaction between maternal depressive history and 5HTTLPR genotype was detected. Specifically, adolescents whose mothers reported a depressive history and who had a low expressing genotype made more errors in classifying emotional faces when compared with adolescents with an intermediate or high expressing genotype, with or without maternal depression history. These findings highlight the complex manner in which maternal depression and genetic risk may interact to predict individual differences in social information processing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)80-84
Number of pages5
JournalBehaviour Research and Therapy
Volume49
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2011

Keywords

  • 5HT
  • Adolescence
  • Depression
  • Face processing
  • G X E
  • Intergenerational transmission

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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