FAAH, SLC6A4, and BDNF variants are not associated with psychosocial stress and mental health outcomes in a population of Syrian refugee youth
Description
The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis posits that early childhood events often disproportionately impact adult health. Numerous studies have found adult mental health to be associated with childhood adversity and genetic variants, particularly in genes related to neurochemistry. However, few studies have examined the way interactive effects may manifest over time and fewer still include protective factors, like resilience. Our group has previously found associations between MAOA and resilience with psychosocial stress over time in Syrian refugee youth. In this study, we utilize the same sample of adolescents to test genetic variants in three additional candidate genes (FAAH, the 5-HTTLPR region of SLC6A4, and BDNF) for associations with stress and mental health outcomes. Using multi-level modeling, we find no association between variants in these candidate genes and psychosocial stress or mental health outcomes. Our analysis included tests for both direct genetic effects and interactions with trauma and resilience. Negative results, like lack of genetic associations, provides a more complete framework in which to better understand positive results and positive associations.