@article{ref1,
title="Lack of association between the 5-HTTLPR and positive screening for mental disorders among children exposed to urban violence and maltreatment",
journal="Revista brasileira de psiquiatria",
year="2014",
author="Cividanes, Giuliana C. and Mello, Andrea F. and Sallum, Juliana M. and Fossaluza, Victor and Medeiros, Marcio de and Maciel, Mariana R. and Cavalcante-Nóbrega, Luciana P. and Mari, Jair J. and Mello, Marcelo F. and Valentte, Nina L.",
volume="36",
number="4",
pages="277-284",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether genetic variations in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR 44-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism) influence an increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents exposed to high levels of violence. <br><br>METHODS: Saliva samples were collected from a group of children who were working on the streets and from their siblings who did not work on the streets. DNA was extracted from the saliva samples and analyzed for 5-HTTLPR polymorphism genotypes. <br><br>RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-seven children between the ages of 7 and 14 years were analyzed (114 child workers and 63 siblings). Data on socioeconomic conditions, mental symptoms, and presence and severity of maltreatment and urban violence were collected using a sociodemographic inventory and clinical instruments. There was no positive correlation between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and presence of mental symptoms in our sample, although the children were exposed to high levels of abuse, neglect, and urban violence. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Despite previous studies that associated adult psychiatric disorders with the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and a history of childhood maltreatment, no such association was found in this sample of children at risk.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1516-4446",
doi="10.1590/1516-4446-2013-1150",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2013-1150"
}