Frontiers in Psychiatry (Mar 2011)

Association between 5-HTTLPR and borderline personality disorder traits among youth

  • Benjamin Hankin,
  • Andrea L Barrocas,
  • Jessica Jenness,
  • Caroline Oppenheimer,
  • Lisa Badanes,
  • John Abela,
  • Jami eYoung,
  • Andrew Smolen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00006
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2

Abstract

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This study provides the first genetic association examination of borderline personality disorder traits (BPD) traits in children and adolescents (ages 9-15) using two independent samples of youth recruited from the general community. We tested the a priori hypothesis that the serotonin transporter promoter gene (5-HTTLPR) would relate specifically to BPD traits in youth. This association was hypothesized based on prior genetic association research with BPD adults and theory positing that emotion dysregulation may be a core risk process contributing to BPD. Youth provided DNA via buccal cells. Both youth and a parent completed self-report measures assessing youth’s BPD traits and depressive symptoms. Results from both Study 1 (N = 242) and an independent replication sample of Study 2 (N = 144) showed that carriers of the short allele of 5-HTTLPR exhibited the highest levels of BPD traits. This relation was observed even after controlling for the substantial co-occurrence between BPD traits and depressive symptoms. This specific association between 5-HTTLPR and BPD traits among youth supports previous genetic associations with adults diagnosed with BPD and provides preliminary support for a developmental extension of etiological risk for BPD among youth.

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