Association of the serotonin transporter polymorphism and obsessive-compulsive disorder: systematic review

Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2008 Sep 5;147B(6):850-8. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.b.30699.

Abstract

We investigated the association between the long (l) and short (s) alleles of the serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in the promoter region of the SLC6A4 gene and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using meta-analysis to combine all published data from case-control and family based association studies (2,283 cases). In stratified meta-analysis we investigated whether age of sample (child and adult), ethnicity (Caucasian and Asian) and study design (case-control and family-based association studies) moderated any association. In the overall meta-analysis we found no evidence of association between genetic variation at the 5-HTTLPR locus and OCD. We did find significant heterogeneity between studies. In the stratified meta-analyses, we demonstrated a significant association between the l-allele and OCD in family-based association studies and in studies involving children and Caucasians. Our meta-analysis suggests the possibility that the l-allele may be associated with OCD in specific OCD subgroups such as childhood-onset OCD and in Caucasians. Further meta-analyses based on individual patient data would be helpful in determining whether age of OCD onset, gender and the presence of comorbid illness (e.g., tics) moderates the relationship between 5-HTTLPR and OCD.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Linkage*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins