The association of childhood maltreatment with depression and anxiety is not moderated by the oxytocin receptor gene

Abstract

BackgroundThe oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene may be involved in resilience or vulnerability towards stress, and hence in the development of stress-related disorders. There are indications that OXTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) interact with early life stressors in predicting levels of depression and anxiety. To replicate and extend these findings, we examined whether three literature-based OXTR SNPs (rs2254298, rs53576, rs2268498) interact with childhood maltreatment in the development of clinically diagnosed depression and anxiety disorders.MethodsWe included 2567 individuals from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. This sample consisted of 387 healthy controls, 428 people with a current or past depressive disorder, 243 people with a current or past anxiety disorder, and 1509 people with both lifetime depression and anxiety diagnoses. Childhood maltreatment was measured with both an interview and via self-report. Additional questionnaires measured depression and anxiety sensitivity.ResultsChildhood maltreatment was strongly associated with both lifetime depression and anxiety diagnoses, as well as with depression and anxiety sensitivity. However, the OXTR SNPs did not moderate these associations nor had main effects on outcomes.ConclusionsThe three OXTR gene SNPs did not interact with childhood maltreatment in predicting lifetime depression and anxiety diagnoses or sensitivity. This stresses the importance of replication studies with regard to OXTR gene variants in general populations as well as in clearly established clinical samples.

No gene-by-environment interaction of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and childhood maltreatment on anxiety sensitivity in a mixed race adolescent sample

“…Secondly, the Val66Met and Met66Met genotypes, respectively, may have dissimilar effects (Hong et al, 2012). Nevertheless, the main effect of CM on AS determined in this study provides support for the positive association between CM, including stressful life events, and AS in adolescents (McLaughlin & Hatzenbuehler, 2009; Tollenaar, Molendijk, Penninx, Milaneschi, & Antypa, 2017), a well-established cognitive risk factor for the development of anxiety disorders and associated symptoms in youth (Hishinuma et al, 2001; McLaughlin et al, 2007; Muris et al, 2001). Furthermore, our finding adds to the well-established literature demonstrating the adverse acute and long-term effects of CM or trauma on mental health and cognition in youth and adults (De Bellis, Woolley, & Hooper, 2013; Greger, Myhre, Lydersen, & Jozefiak, 2015; Irigaray et al, 2013; Taillieu, Brownridge, Sareen, & Afifi, 2016; Teicher, Ohashi, Lowen, Polcari, & Fitzmaurice, 2015).…”

The Associations Between Oxytocin and Trauma in Humans: A Systematic Review

“…Other polymorphisms studied included OXTR rs2254298 and rs2268498, but neither Dunn et al ( 2014 ) nor Tollenaar et al ( 2017 ) found changes or association among the presence of ET or PTSD, a single nucleotide polymorphism, and the development of symptoms. In addition, Dunn et al ( 2014 ) investigated the role of rs53576 and did not find a difference between the presence of the AA allele and the AG or GG alleles as risk factors for the development of PTSD or its symptoms.…”

“…Cicchetti and Rogosch ( 2012 ) showed that the presence of ET and the AA/AG genotype was associated with increased resiliency; therefore, the presence of the AA/AG genotype appears to have a protective function. On the other hand, Tollenaar et al ( 2017 ) indicated that the OXTR53576 gene polymorphism does not interact with ET and predict risk factor and/or vulnerability toward the development of depression or anxiety. In addition, Sippel et al ( 2017 ) found that the presence of a minor allele associated with an insecure attachment style was associated with a higher prevalence of PTSD among war veterans.…”

“…Finally, the other genetic polymorphisms (OXTR rs2254298 and rs2268498) had no effect on PTSD symptoms or their development (Dunn et al, 2014 ) nor on the depression or anxiety symptoms of participants with ET (Tollenaar et al, 2017 ). One possible explanation is that the participants were recruited from a specific population of low-income non-Hispanics blacks who were exposed to Hurricane Katrina (Dunn et al 2014) or healthy participants with ET (Tollenaar et al, 2017 ). Large samples are required for candidate gene studies.…”

Maternal verbal aggression in early infancy and child’s internalizing symptoms: interaction by common oxytocin polymorphisms

“…After several kinds of maltreatment in childhood (emotional, physical or sexual abuse; emotional or physical neglect), G-allele carriers have shown increased depressive symptoms [17,18], and conduct problems (in females only) [19] and GG carriers showed a higher risk of emotional dysregulation [20], compared to A-carriers. However, a study on adults with clinically diagnosed depression and anxiety disorders showed no interaction of rs53576 with one or more types of childhood maltreatment [21].…”