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Measurement scale does moderate the association between the serotonin transporter gene and trait anxiety: comments on Munafo et al

Molecular Psychiatry volume 10, pages 892–893 (2005)Cite this article

SIR—Recently, independent meta-analyses have provided a statistical summary of studies of the relationship between the linked polymorphic region of the human serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and trait anxiety. Munafo et al,1 found little evidence for 5-HTTLPR–anxiety association, reporting a standardized mean difference (d) of 0.11 between the long (ll) and short (ss/sl) geneotypes on anxiety measures. Similar findings were independently reported by Schinka et al,2 and Sen et al,3 however, both found that there was a significant effect (d≈0.25) in studies employing the Neuroticism (N) scale of Costa and McCrae4 as the anxiety measure, in contrast to studies using the Harm Avoidance (HA) scale of Cloninger5, 6 (d<0.1). Schinka and Sen both concluded that 5-HTTLPR may have reliable influence on trait anxiety when measured with the appropriate scale.

Munafo et al,7 have recently provided critical comments of the Schinka study and presented an updated meta-analysis, the results of which they interpret to show a small positive effect for studies employing the HA scale and no association in studies using the N scale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Tampa, FL, USA

    J A Schinka

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    J A Schinka

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  1. J A Schinka
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Correspondence to J A Schinka.

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Schinka, J. Measurement scale does moderate the association between the serotonin transporter gene and trait anxiety: comments on Munafo et al. Mol Psychiatry 10, 892–893 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001708

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