Vulnerability to depression: what is the role of stress genes in gene × environment interaction?

Abstract

Vulnerability to depression has been linked to the interaction of genetic predisposition with stressful life events. This review considers the associations between serotonergic and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) systems. We follow the standpoint of a previous Editorial Review (Bhagwagar & Cowen, Psychological Medicine 2008, 38, 307–313) and consider another possible mechanism of vulnerability to depressive disorder, that is we suggest that the gene×environment interaction involves complex participation of serotonergic genes modulating response to stress through the HPA system.