Association of the serotonin transporter gene, neuroticism and smoking behaviours

C O'Gara, J Knight, J Stapleton, J Luty, B Neale, M Nash, P Heuzo-Diaz, F Hoda, S Cohen, G Sutherland, D Collier, P Sham, D Ball, P McGuffin, I Craig

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cigarette consumption and smoking cessation are influenced in part by genes. Personality traits have also been implicated in the aetiology of smoking. Neuroticism, a personality trait with a heritable component, correlates well with anxiety and depression, increasing the risk of being a smoker and decreasing the chance of smoking cessation. Several prior studies in non-British populations have given conflicting results as to whether some genetic polymorphisms affect the relationship between smoking and neuroticism. This study investigated the influence of serotonin transporter (5HTTLPR) genotypes on a composite measure of neuroticism and cigarette consumption/smoking cessation in a British population. Although neuroticism was significantly associated with cigarette consumption and smoking cessation, genotype did not affect this relationship. Our results do not support initial interest in utilising 5HTTLPR genotypes in combination with neuroticism ratings for predicting outcome in smoking cessation clinical settings
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)239 - 246
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Human Genetics
Volume53
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2008

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