TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Lack of association between the 5-HTTLPR and positive screening for mental disorders among children exposed to urban violence and maltreatment
JO  - Revista brasileira de psiquiatria
A1  - Cividanes, Giuliana C.
A1  - Mello, Andrea F.
A1  - Sallum, Juliana M.
A1  - Fossaluza, Victor
A1  - Medeiros, Marcio de
A1  - Maciel, Mariana R.
A1  - Cavalcante-Nóbrega, Luciana P.
A1  - Mari, Jair J.
A1  - Mello, Marcelo F.
A1  - Valentte, Nina L.
SP  - 277
EP  - 284
VL  - 36
IS  - 4
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 1516-4446
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2013-1150
ID  - ref1
ER  -