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PSYCHIATRY / CLINICAL RESEARCH
Current perspectives on the role of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene variants in panic disorder: associations with disease liability and separation anxiety
1
Medical Laboratory Techniques Program, Vocational School of Health Services, Sinop University, Sinop, Turkey
2
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey
3
Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science and Arts, Sinop University, Sinop, Turkey
Submission date: 2024-10-17
Final revision date: 2025-01-16
Acceptance date: 2025-01-22
Online publication date: 2025-04-20
Corresponding author
Zeynep Yegin
Medical Laboratory Techniques Program Vocational School of Health Services, Sinop University, Sinop, Turkey
Medical Laboratory Techniques Program Vocational School of Health Services, Sinop University, Sinop, Turkey
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene variations are associated with empathy, trust, emotional stability, stress reactivity, social bonding and attachment behaviors. We aimed to explore the impact of three OXTR gene variations (rs53576, rs237902, rs2254298) in susceptibility to panic disorder (PD). We also investigated the possible effects of these variants on separation anxiety scale scores in patients, with a comprehensive approach covering environmental adversity effects.
Material and methods:
The hypothesis was studied in PD patients and healthy controls with the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. By applying the Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory (SASI) and the Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASA), the relationships between the OXTR gene variants and these scales were also evaluated comprehensively.
Results:
A statistically significant association was found for OXTR rs237902; presence of the A allele was associated with a 1.585-fold increase in probability of PD. Moreover, all of the analyzed OXTR variants were found to be associated with childhood and adult separation anxiety in the patients in the combined analyses of various demographic and clinical data; striking associations of AA genotype with SASI and ASA scores were observed in these models.
Conclusions:
The study supports the involvement of oxytocinergic gene variants in PD. It also represents one of the most comprehensive models examining gene-environment (G × E) interactions in this context.
Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene variations are associated with empathy, trust, emotional stability, stress reactivity, social bonding and attachment behaviors. We aimed to explore the impact of three OXTR gene variations (rs53576, rs237902, rs2254298) in susceptibility to panic disorder (PD). We also investigated the possible effects of these variants on separation anxiety scale scores in patients, with a comprehensive approach covering environmental adversity effects.
Material and methods:
The hypothesis was studied in PD patients and healthy controls with the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. By applying the Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory (SASI) and the Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASA), the relationships between the OXTR gene variants and these scales were also evaluated comprehensively.
Results:
A statistically significant association was found for OXTR rs237902; presence of the A allele was associated with a 1.585-fold increase in probability of PD. Moreover, all of the analyzed OXTR variants were found to be associated with childhood and adult separation anxiety in the patients in the combined analyses of various demographic and clinical data; striking associations of AA genotype with SASI and ASA scores were observed in these models.
Conclusions:
The study supports the involvement of oxytocinergic gene variants in PD. It also represents one of the most comprehensive models examining gene-environment (G × E) interactions in this context.
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| eISSN: | 1896-9151 |
| ISSN: | 1734-1922 |
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