Document Detail


Vulnerability genes or plasticity genes?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19455150     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The classic diathesis-stress framework, which views some individuals as particularly vulnerable to adversity, informs virtually all psychiatric research on behavior-gene-environment (G x E) interaction. An alternative framework of 'differential susceptibility' is proposed, one which regards those most susceptible to adversity because of their genetic make up as simultaneously most likely to benefit from supportive or enriching experiences-or even just the absence of adversity. Recent G x E findings consistent with this perspective and involving monoamine oxidase-A, 5-HTTLPR (5-hydroxytryptamine-linked polymorphic region polymorphism) and dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) are reviewed for illustrative purposes. Results considered suggest that putative 'vulnerability genes' or 'risk alleles' might, at times, be more appropriately conceptualized as 'plasticity genes', because they seem to make individuals more susceptible to environmental influences-for better and for worse.
Authors:
J Belsky; C Jonassaint; M Pluess; M Stanton; B Brummett; R Williams
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review     Date:  2009-05-19
Journal Detail:
Title:  Molecular psychiatry     Volume:  14     ISSN:  1476-5578     ISO Abbreviation:  Mol. Psychiatry     Publication Date:  2009 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-07-23     Completed Date:  2009-11-30     Revised Date:  2010-09-27    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9607835     Medline TA:  Mol Psychiatry     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  746-54     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Social Issues, Birkbeck University of London, London, UK. j.belsky@bbk.ac.uk
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adaptation, Physiological / genetics
Adaptation, Psychological* / physiology
Animals
Disease Susceptibility*
Environment
Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
Humans
Mental Disorders / genetics*,  psychology
Psychological Theory
Stress, Psychological / genetics,  physiopathology*,  psychology
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
3P01 HL036587/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS; M01RR301/RR/NCRR NIH HHS; R01AG19605/AG/NIA NIH HHS
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Mol Psychiatry. 2010 Sep;15(9):881-2   [PMID:  20010890 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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