Association of DRD2 , 5-HTTLPR, and 5-HTTVNTR Gene Polymorphisms With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Tibetan Adolescents: A Case–Control Study
Abstract
Background: Earthquake exposure is a source of stress, yet only a minority of survivors experience clinically meaningful disturbance in psychological function. Genetic epidemiological research has found that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are associated with genetic factors. Further research to reveal which genetic loci relate to the development of PTSD is warranted. Method: We investigated the relationships between PTSD and the dopamine D2 receptor ( DRD2) gene Taq I polymorphism and the serotonin transporter gene ( SCL6A4) polymorphisms 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and 5-HTTVNTR in 565 adolescent earthquake survivors. PTSD-positive adolescents were identified using the PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version and the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4. Genotypes were analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction—restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The Pearson χ 2 test was used to investigate the differences in genotype and allele frequencies between case and control groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify possible influencing factors for PTSD. Results: The DRD2 Taq I and 5-HTTVNTR polymorphisms had statistically significant effects on PTSD, while 5-HTTLPR did not. Specifically, the DRD2 Taq I A1 allele was highly positively correlated with PTSD, whereas the 10 allele of 5-HTTVNTR was negatively correlated. Conclusions: These data suggest that the DRD2 Taq I and 5-HTTVNTR genotypes moderate sensitivity to stress and the expression of emotional disturbance involving PTSD symptoms. These findings have important implications for PTSD etiology as well as for both primary prevention and treatment strategies.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Polymorphisms in genes such as the GR gene affect HPA axis activity and sensitivity to stress hormones.
“Polymorphisms in genes such as the GR gene affect HPA axis activity and sensitivity to stress hormones.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [31]
Certain polymorphisms in the DRD2 gene and the SCL6A4 are linked to PTSD symptoms.
“Certain polymorphisms in the DRD2 gene and the SCL6A4 are linked to PTSD symptoms.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [31]
The 5-HTT and the COMT gene have been linked to variations in stress-related traits and disorders, including neuroticism, anxiety, and depression.
“The 5-HTT and the COMT gene have also been linked to variations in stress-related traits and disorders, including neuroticism, anxiety, and depression [3,9,31,44,46].”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [31]
Chronic psychological stress can alter Neurexin gene expression and splicing patterns, impacting synaptic strength regulation and potentially contributing to aversive conditioning.
“Chronic psychological stress can alter Neurexin gene expression and splicing patterns, impacting synaptic strength regulation and potentially contributing to aversive conditioning.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [31]
Cites
Influence of life stress on depression: moderation by a polymorphism in the 5-HTT gene
Caspi, A., Sugden, K., Moffitt, T. E., Taylor, A., Craig, I. W., Harrington, H., McClay, J., Mill, J., Martin, J., Braithwaite, A., et al. (2003) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1083968 · Cited by 8,120 · see citing works
Serotonin transporter genetic variation and the response of the human amygdala.
Hariri, A. R., Mattay, V. S., Tessitore, A., Kolachana, B., Fera, F., Goldman, D., Egan, M. F., & Weinberger, D. R. (2002) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1071829 · Cited by 2,340 · see citing works
Allelic Variation of Human Serotonin Transporter Gene Expression
Heils, A., Teufel, A., Petri, S., Stöber, G., Riederer, P., Bengel, D., & Lesch, K. P. (1996) · Journal of Neurochemistry · doi:10.1046/j.1471-4159.1996.66062621.x · Cited by 2,221 · see citing works
Psychological Sequelae of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks in New York City
Galea, S., Ahern, J., Resnick, H. S., Kilpatrick, D. G., Bucuvalas, M. J., Gold, J., & Vlahov, D. (2002) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmsa013404 · Cited by 1,905 · see citing works
Cancer epidemiology biomarkers & prevention
Press, H. (1991) · Cited by 1,403 · see citing works
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(2018) · Sage eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781506326139.n198 · Cited by 1,243 · see citing works
Adult psychiatric morbidity in England, 2007: Results of a household survey
Mcmanus, S., Meltzer, H., Brugha, T., Bebbington, P., & Jenkins, R. (2009) · Unpublished · doi:10.13140/2.1.1563.5205 · Cited by 814 · see citing works
Alonso, J., Angermeyer, M. C., & Lépine, J. P. (2004) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0047.2004.00325.x · Cited by 758 · see citing works
True, W. R. (1993) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1993.01820160019002 · Cited by 704 · see citing works
Noble, E. P. (1991) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1991.01810310066012 · Cited by 655 · see citing works
Mcelroy, A., & Ba, E. (2010) · Journal of Clinical Nursing · doi:10.1111/(issn)1365-2702 · Cited by 640 · see citing works
Organization of the human serotonin transporter gene
Lesch, K., Balling, U., Groß, J., Strauss, K. M., Wolozin, B. L., Murphy, D. L., & Riederer, P. F. (1994) · Journal of Neural Transmission · doi:10.1007/bf01276434 · Cited by 628 · see citing works
Polymorphism in serotonin transporter gene associated with susceptibility to major depression
Ogilvie, A. D., Battersby, S., Fink, G., Harmar, A. J., Goodwin, G. M., Bubb, V. J., & Smith, C. A. (1996) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)90079-3 · Cited by 530 · see citing works
Kilpatrick, D. G., Koenen, K. C., Ruggiero, K. J., Acierno, R. E., Galea, S., Resnick, H. S., Roitzsch, J. C., Boyle, J. M., & Gelernter, J. E. (2007) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.06122007 · Cited by 405 · see citing works
High interrater reliability for the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Axis I (SCID-I)
Skre, I., Onstad, S., Torgersen, S., & Kringlen, E. (1991) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1991.tb03123.x · Cited by 353 · see citing works
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Bisson, J. I., Cosgrove, S., Lewis, C., & Roberts, N. P. (2015) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.h6161 · Cited by 342 · see citing works
Vulnerability to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adult Offspring of Holocaust Survivors
Yehuda, R., Schmeidler, J., Wainberg, M., Binder-Brynes, K., & Duvdevani, T. (1998) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.155.9.1163 · Cited by 327 · see citing works
Dai, W., Chen, L., Lai, Z., Li, Y., Wang, J., & Liu, A. (2016) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0891-9 · Cited by 281 · see citing works
Population studies of polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter protein gene.
Gelernter, J. E., Cubells, J. F., Kidd, J. R., PAKSTIS, A. J., & Kídd, K. K. (1999) · PubMed · Cited by 256 · see citing works
Comings, D., Muhleman, D., & Gysin, R. (1996) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/0006-3223(95)00519-6 · Cited by 226 · see citing works
Grabe, H. J., Spitzer, C., Schwahn, C., Marcinek, A., Frahnow, A., Barnow, S., Lucht, M. J., Freyberger, H. J., John, U., Wallaschofski, H., et al. (2009) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.08101542 · Cited by 168 · see citing works
Dell’Osso, L., Carmassi, C., Massimetti, G., Daneluzzo, E., Tommaso, S. D., & Rossi, A. (2011) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2010.11.023 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics
(2006) · American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B Neuropsychiatric Genetics · doi:10.1002/(issn)1552-485x · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Xu, K., Lichtermann, D., Lipsky, R. H., Franke, P. E., Liu, X., Hu, Y., Cao, L., Schwab, S. G., Wildenauer, D. B., Bau, C. H. D., et al. (2004) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.61.6.597 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
Twin studies of posttraumatic stress disorder: Differentiating vulnerability factors from sequelae
Kremen, W. S., Koenen, K. C., Afari, N., & Lyons, M. J. (2011) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.03.012 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Gelernter, J. E., Southwick, S. M., Goodson, S., Morgan, A., Nagy, L. M., & Charney, D. S. (1999) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(98)00087-0 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Zhang, W., Liu, H., Jiang, X., Wu, D., & Tian, Y. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0088263 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Tian, Y., Wong, T. K., Li, J., & Jiang, X. (2014) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-1073 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Liberzon, I., King, A. P. J., Ressler, K. J., Almli, L. M., Zhang, P., Ma, S. T., Cohen, G. H., Tamburrino, M., Calabrese, J. R., & Galea, S. (2014) · JAMA Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.999 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Wang, Z., Baker, D. G., Harrer, J., Hamner, M. B., Price, M., & Amstadter, A. B. (2011) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.20872 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Meta-Analyses of the 5-HTTLPR Polymorphisms and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Navarro‐Mateu, F., Escámez, T., Koenen, K. C., Alonso, J., & Sánchez‐Meca, J. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0066227 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Contractor, A. A., Layne, C. M., Steinberg, A. M., Ostrowski, S. A., Ford, J. D., & Elhai, J. D. (2013) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2013.09.012 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Mercer, K. B. (2011) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.109 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Dopamine is released in the striatum during human emotional processing
Badgaiyan, R. D. (2010) · Neuroreport · doi:10.1097/wnr.0b013e3283410955 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Association between the dopamine D2 receptor A2/A2 genotype and smoking behavior in the Japanese.
Yoshida, K., Hamajima, N., Ki, K., Saito, H., Maeno, K., Sugiura, T., Okuma, K., & Takahashi, T. (2001) · PubMed · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Boyes, M. E., Cluver, L. D., & Gardner, F. E. M. (2012) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046905 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
David Bartrés-faz, A., Junqué, C., Serra-Grabulosa, J. M., López‐Alomar, A., Moya, A., Bargall, N. R., Mercader, J. M., Moral, P., & Clemente, I. C. (2002) · Neuroreport · doi:10.1097/00001756-200207020-00010 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Bailey, J. N., Goenjian, A. K., Noble, E. P., Walling, D. P., Ritchie, T. L., & Goenjian, H. A. (2010) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2010.04.043 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Race and ethnicity as factors in mental health service use among veterans with PTSD
Spoont, M. R., Hodges, J., Murdoch, M., & Nugent, S. (2009) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.20470 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Marino, C., Vanzin, L., Giorda, R., Frigerio, A., Lorusso, M. L., Nobile, M., Molteni, M., & Battaglia, M. (2004) · Behavior Genetics · doi:10.1023/b:bege.0000038487.80597.7e · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Sayin, A., Küçükyıldırım, S., Akar, T., Bakkaloğlu, Z., Demircan, A., Kurtoglu, G. C., Demirel, B., Candansayar, S., & Mergen, H. (2009) · DNA and Cell Biology · doi:10.1089/dna.2009.0936 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Tian, Y., Liu, H., Guse, L. W., Wong, T. K. S., Li, J., Bai, Y., & Jiang, X. (2015) · Biological Research For Nursing · doi:10.1177/1099800415588362 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Lee, H.-Y., Kim, D., Lee, H., Choi, J.-E., & Kim, Y. (2008) · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2008.11.013 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Dongling, L., Hui, C., Ling, M., Bie, W., Zailiang, L., & Changying, C. (2016) · Journal of Clinical Nursing · doi:10.1111/jocn.13481 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Maeda, M., Katō, H., & Maruoka, T. (2009) · Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences · doi:10.1111/j.1440-1819.2009.02031.x · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Nelson, E. C., Heath, A. C., Lynskey, M. T., Arpana Agrawal, A., Henders, A. K., Bowdler, L. M., Todorov, A. A., Madden, P. A. F., Moore, E., Degenhardt, L. J., et al. (2013) · Addiction Biology · doi:10.1111/adb.12062 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Duan, Z., He, M., Zhang, J., Chen, K., Li, B., & Wang, J. (2015) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2015.08.066 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Petrović, Z. K., Erjavec, G. N., Perković, M. N., Peraica, T., & Pivac, N. (2016) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2016.08.017 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Kallmann syndrome gene (KAL-X) is not mutated in schizophrenia
O’Neill, M. J., Brewer, W. J., Thornley, C., Copolov, D., Warne, G. L., Sinclair, A. H., Forrest, S., & Williamson, R. (1999) · American Journal of Medical Genetics · doi:10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(19990205)88:1 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Russi, M. B. (2009) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2009.830 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Shchaslyvyi, A. Y., Antonenko, S. V., & Telegeev, G. D. (2024) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph21081077 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Zhang, X., Han, Y., Liu, X., Chen, J., Yuan, Z., & Wang, Y. (2023) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.001 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Zhou, P., Deng, M., Wu, J., Lan, Q., Yang, H., & Zhang, C. (2021) · Molecular Neurobiology · doi:10.1007/s12035-020-02278-6 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Tabano, S. M., Tassi, L., Cannone, M. G., Brescia, G., Gaudioso, G., Ferrara, M., Colapietro, P., Fontana, L., Miozzo, M. R., Croci, G. A., et al. (2022) · European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience · doi:10.1007/s00406-022-01472-y · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Niu, Y., Zhang, J., Tang, H., Cao, L.-H., Jiang, T., & Hu, Y. (2023) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1102573 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES
International Science Group, & Vladlenov, D. (2024) · doi:10.46299/isg.p.2024.1.3 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Wu, M., Lin, L., Wu, Y., Zheng, Y., & Chen, H. (2022) · Translational Pediatrics · doi:10.21037/tp-22-289 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Mini-review: A possible role for galanin in post-traumatic stress disorder
Ullrich, D. C., & Gillavry, D. W. M. (2021) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135980 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Kalungi, A., Womersley, J. S., Kinyanda, E., Joloba, M. L., Ssembajjwe, W. J., Nsubuga, R. N., Seedat, S., & Hemmings, S. M. J. (2021) · Frontiers in Genetics · doi:10.3389/fgene.2021.649055 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Landoni, M., Tella, S. D., Ciuffo, G., & Ionio, C. (2024) · Genes · doi:10.3390/genes15101270 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
DRD2 Taq I A polymorphism in Eastern Uttar Pradesh populationPreprint
Chaudhary, A., Yadav, U., Kumar, P., & Rai, V. (2019) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/783514 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Gayduk, A., Sustretov, A. S., Kokorev, D. A., Kuznetsov, A. A., Gonda, X., Sack, A. T., Syunyakov, T., & Smirnova, D. A. (2024) · Science and Innovations in Medicine · doi:10.35693/sim627038
Xu, L., Gao, M., Wang, B., Wang, L., & Zhang, K. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5383881
González‐Castro, T. B., de Dios, J. A., Hernández-Vicencio, J. L., Pérez-Ramírez, D., Juárez-Rojop, I. E., Hernández‐Díaz, Y., Genis-Mendoza, A. D., Tovilla-Zárate, C. A., & López‐Narváez, M. L. (2025) · European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation · doi:10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100629
Zhang, X., Liu, W., Chen, L., Zuo, C., Lan, H., Li, L., Kemp, G. J., Lui, S., Suo, X., & Gong, Q. (2026) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291726105388
- Authors
- Xiao, Y., Liu, D., Liu, K., Wu, C., Zhang, H., Niu, Y., & Jiang, X.
- Affiliations
- Sichuan University (CN)
- Zhengzhou University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Jiang, Xiaolian
- Venue
- Biological Research For Nursing
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2019-04-13
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 286-295
- ISSN
- 1099-8004 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-4175
- OpenAlex
- W2939263357
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 1.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biological Research For Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, 5-HTTLPR, dopamine D2 receptor, serotonin transporter, genetic polymorphism, earthquake survivors, adolescents, Tibetan adolescents, genetic susceptibility, stress sensitivity, PTSD etiology
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Female, Humans, Male, Polymorphism, Genetic, Risk Factors, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Case-Control Studies, Receptors, Dopamine D2, Survivors, Tibet, Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins, Earthquakes, Gene-Environment Interaction
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
