Study Report
Study Information
Basic Info
| Reference |
Mercer, K. B.,2012 PMID: 21893641
|
| Citation |
Mercer, K. B., et al. (2012). "Acute and posttraumatic stress symptoms in a prospective gene x environment study of a university campus shooting." Arch Gen Psychiatry 69(1): 89-97. |
| Phenotype |
Postshooting PTSD symptoms score (delta DEQ >1 month), Hyperarousal (2-4 week delta DEQ), Reexperiencing (2-4 week delta DEQ), Avoidance (2-4 week delta DEQ) |
| Trauma |
Campus shooting |
| Study Design |
Longitudinal study |
| Study Type |
Candidate gene association study, Gene-environment interaction study |
| Sample Size |
204 participants |
| SNP/Marker Size |
3 Variants |
| Predominant Ethnicity |
Caucasian, Black |
| Population |
77.5% white, 13.7% black or African American, other races accounted for 8.9%. |
| Gender |
all female |
| Age |
Mean age=20.1 years, SD=2.6. |
Detail Info
| Sample Diagnosis |
DSM-IV, DSM-IV-TR |
| Related Diagnostic Tools |
Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire, Distressing Event Questionnaire (DEQ), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, |
| Sample Status |
Participants were recruited from an ongoing longitudinal study following the mass shooting at Northern Illinois University on February 14, 2008. All individuals were interviewed on at least 3 occasions, prior to the shooting (time 1), 2 to 13 weeks postshooting (mean=3.2 weeks, time 2), and 8 to 12 months following time 2 (mean=8.4 months, time 3). |
| Controls Exposed |
Yes |
| Replication Size |
None |
| Result Summary |
Results: We found that although the STin2 variant and 5-HTTLPR alone did not associate with increased PTSD symptoms, rs25531 and the 5-HTTLPR multimarker genotype (combined 5-HTTLPR and rs25531) were associated with significantly increased acute stress disorder symptoms at 2 to 4 weeks postshooting (n = 161; P-value<.05). This association remained significant when controlling for race and for level of shooting exposure (n = 123; P-value<.007). The association was most robust with the 5-HTTLPR multimarker genotype and avoidance symptoms (P-value=.003). Conclusion: These data suggest that differential function of the serotonin transporter may mediate differential response to a severe trauma. When examined in a relatively homogenous sample with shared trauma and known prior levels of child and adult trauma, the 5-HTTLPR multimarker genotype may serve as a useful predictor of risk for PTSD-related symptoms in the weeks and months following the trauma. |
| Potential Biomarker |
None |
Genetic result reported by this study
