Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2440/65858
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Type: Journal article
Title: Association of MAO-A Variant with Complicated Grief in Major Depression
Author: Kersting, A.
Kroker, K.
Horstmann, J.
Baune, B.
Hohoff, C.
Mortensen, L.
Neumann, L.
Arolt, V.
Domschke, K.
Citation: Neuropsychobiology: international journal of experimental and clinical research in biological psychiatry, pharmacopsychiatry, biological psychology, pharmacopsychology and pharmacoelectroencephalography, 2008; 56(4):191-196
Publisher: Karger
Issue Date: 2008
ISSN: 0302-282X
1423-0224
Statement of
Responsibility: 
Anette Kersting, Kristin Kroker, Julia Horstmann, Bernhard T. Baune, Christa Hohoff, Lena Sünke Mortensen, Lisa C. Neumann, Volker Arolt, Katharina Domschke
Abstract: <h4>Background/aims</h4>It has been suggested that monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) activity is involved in the pathogenesis of major depression. Bereavement-related complicated grief significantly increases the risk of major depression and has been shown to be influenced by serotonergic tonus, possibly conferred by MAO-A activity. Complicated grief--whose inclusion in DSM-V as a separate mental disorder is under discussion--has been shown to be a distinct syndrome with symptoms not seen in depression. Therefore, in the present study, genetic variation in the MAO-A gene was investigated for its influence on complicated grief in major depression.<h4>Methods</h4>Sixty-six unrelated Caucasian patients (41 female, 25 male) with major depression and a history of bereavement were evaluated for complicated grief using the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG), the posttraumatic stress reaction after the loss by means of the Impact of Event Scale (IES-R) and further psychopathological measures. Patients were additionally genotyped for the functional variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in the promoter region of the MAO-A gene.<h4>Results</h4>The more active longer allele of the MAO-A VNTR was significantly associated with complicated grief in the female subgroup of patients (chi(2) = 9.471, p = 0.002, OR = 9.208, 95% CI 2.129-38.899, Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.012), whereas there was no such effect in male patients. Higher posttraumatic stress reaction was only nominally associated with the more active longer allele of the MAO-A VNTR in the female subgroup of patients (genotypes: chi(2) = 5.939, p = 0.015, OR = 5.333, 95% CI 1.366-20.557, Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.087). No significant associations of MAO-A VNTR with the severity of depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety symptoms (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), general mental health (Brief Symptom Inventory), or perceived social support (F-SozU) were found (all p > 0.10).<h4>Conclusion</h4>The present pilot study for the first time suggests a gender-specific contribution of the more active MAO-A VNTR variant to an increased vulnerability for complicated grief as a potential intermediate phenotype of major depression.
Keywords: Monoamine oxidase A
Serotonin
Complicated grief
Rights: Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel
DOI: 10.1159/000120624
Published version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000120624
Appears in Collections:Aurora harvest
Psychiatry publications

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