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    Caspi Et Al (2003)

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    taneeshastudytimeee
    The study looked at the role of gene mutation and epigenetics in major depressive disorder, examining whether there is a gene-environment interaction for a mutation of the serotonin transporter gene. It found that people with one or more short versions of the allele showed more depression symptoms and suicidal ideation in response to stressful life events compared to those with long alleles. However, much more research is needed to establish a clear relationship between genes and depression.

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    Caspi Et Al (2003)

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    taneeshastudytimeee
    8 views2 pages
    The study looked at the role of gene mutation and epigenetics in major depressive disorder, examining whether there is a gene-environment interaction for a mutation of the serotonin transporter gene. It found that people with one or more short versions of the allele showed more depression symptoms and suicidal ideation in response to stressful life events compared to those with long alleles. However, much more research is needed to establish a clear relationship between genes and depression.

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    Caspi et al (2003)

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    The study looked at the role of gene mutation and epigenetics in major depressive disorder, examining whether there is a gene-environment interaction for a mutation of the serotonin transporter gene. It found that people with one or more short versions of the allele showed more depression symptoms and suicidal ideation in response to stressful life events compared to those with long alleles. However, much more research is needed to establish a clear relationship between genes and depression.

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    8 views2 pages

    Caspi Et Al (2003)

    Uploaded by

    taneeshastudytimeee
    The study looked at the role of gene mutation and epigenetics in major depressive disorder, examining whether there is a gene-environment interaction for a mutation of the serotonin transporter gene. It found that people with one or more short versions of the allele showed more depression symptoms and suicidal ideation in response to stressful life events compared to those with long alleles. However, much more research is needed to establish a clear relationship between genes and depression.

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    Caspi et al (2003)

    Caspi et al (2003) carried out a study on the role that gene mutation and epigenetics may
    play in major depressive disorder. You can use this study for the following content in the
    biological approach:
    Research methods used in the biological approach.
    To what extent does genetic inheritance influence behaviour?
    Procedure and results
    Diathesis-stress theories of depression predict that an individual's reaction to stressful events
    depends on their genetic make-up. If an individual has a specific genetic predisposition
    toward a disorder (genotype), then interaction with stressors in the environment may cause
    these genes to be expressed. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is
    evidence for a gene-environment interaction (G x E) for a mutation of the serotonin
    transporter gene - 5-HTT. The serotonin transporter is involved in the reuptake of serotonin
    in brain synapses.
    Caspi and his team looked at a sample of 847 New Zealand 26-year-olds. All were members
    of a cohort that had been assessed for mental health on an every-other-year basis until they
    were 21. They were divided into three groups based on their 5-HTT alleles: Group 1 had two
    short alleles; Group 2 had one short and one long allele; Group 3 had two long alleles. The
    mutation of the 5-HTT gene has the shorter alleles. Roughly 43% of people have the shorter
    alleles.
    The participants were asked to fill in a "Stressful life events" questionnaire which asked them
    about the frequency of 14 different events - including financial, employment, health, and
    relationship stressors - between the ages of 21 and 26. They were also assessed for
    depression.
    People who had inherited one or more short versions of the allele demonstrated more
    symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation in response to stressful life events. The effect
    was strongest for those with three or more stressful life events. Simply inheriting the gene
    was not enough to lead to depression, but the genes' interaction with stressful life events
    increased one's likelihood of developing depression.
    In a later study by Wilhelm et al (2006), the researchers looked at DNA samples from 127
    people who are part of a longitudinal prospective study looking at mental health. The sample
    had been monitored for over 25 years. At five-year intervals, scientists recorded any major
    life events and signs of depression. They found that 80 percent of those with two short 5-HTT
    genes became depressed after three or more negative life events in a year, whereas those with
    two long genes appeared resilient - only 30 percent developed the illness in similar
    situations. They also found that childhood maltreatment predicted adult depression only
    among individuals carrying a short allele and not among those carrying the longer allele.
    However, much more research is needed before a clear relationship between a gene and a
    depression can be established.
    Evaluation

     The study is correlational, so no cause-effect relationship can be determined.


     The study makes the assumption that serotonin causes depression.
     Information about life-events was self-reported. It may be the salience of the
    negative life events which plays a role in depression - that is, those that recalled
    them more easily may have a tendency towards depression. Those who are more
    resilient, may not recall negative life events as easily.
     The theory acknowledges the interaction between both biological and
    environmental factors in depression. This is a more holistic approach, not
    reductionist.
     Later studies have not been able to show similar results. Risch et al (2009) carried
    out a meta-analysis of attempted replications and found that the results were not
    able to be replicated. It appears that the study has low reliability.
     There were some participants who did not carry the gene mutation who became
    depressed; therefore, we cannot say that gene expression alone can cause
    depression.

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