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Comparative Study
. 2009 Aug;9(4):579-84.
doi: 10.1037/a0016189.

The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with rumination in healthy adults

Christopher G Beevers  1 , Tony T Wells, John E McGeary
Affiliations
Comparative Study

The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with rumination in healthy adults

Christopher G Beevers et al. Emotion. 2009 Aug.

Abstract

This study examined associations between the tendency to ruminate and 2 polymorphisms: the Val66Met polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4). Participants were a homogeneous group of healthy, unmedicated, never depressed individuals with few current symptoms of depression (N = 71). Results indicated that met heterozygotes of the BDNF allele were significantly more likely to ruminate than individuals homozygous for the val BDNF allele. There was no association between rumination and the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism. Furthermore, the interaction between the 5-HTTLPR and BDNF polymorphisms did not predict rumination. Results suggest that variation in the BDNF gene may contribute to the tendency to ruminate. Because this association exists in healthy adults, it may represent a susceptibility factor for affective disorders.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean and standard errors for total rumination scores, measured with the Ruminative Responses Scale, presented as a function of (a) BDNF and (b) 5-HTTLPR allele groups.
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References

    1. Beevers CG, Gibb BE, McGeary JE, Miller IW. Serotonin Transporter Genetic Variation and Biased Attention for Emotional Word Stimuli Among Psychiatric Inpatients. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 2007;116(1):208. - PubMed
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    1. Beevers CG, Wells T. Genetic associations with cognitive vulnerablity to depression. In: Ingram RE, editor. The International Encyclopedia of Depression. New York: Springer; (in press)
    1. Canli T, Qiu M, Omura K, Congdon E, Haas BW, Amin Z, et al. Neural correlates of epigenesis. PNAS. 2006;103(43):16033–16038. - PMC - PubMed

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