Serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and psychiatric disorders: Is there a link?

Though still in infancy, the field of psychiatric genetics holds great potential to contribute to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic options to treat these disorders. Among a large number of existing neurotransmitter systems, the serotonin system dysfunction has been implicated in many psychiatric disorders and therapeutic efficacy of many drugs is also thought to be based on modulation of serotonin. Serotonin transporter gene polymorphism is one of the most extensively studied polymorphisms in psychiatric behavioral genetics. In this article, we review the status of evidence for association between the serotonin gene polymorphism and some common mental disorders like affective disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, suicide, autism, and other anxiety and personality disorders. Going beyond traditional association studies, gene-environment interaction, currently gaining momentum, is also discussed in the review. While the existing information of psychiatric genetics is inadequate for putting into practice genetic testing in the diagnostic work-up of the psychiatric patient, if consistent in future research attempts, such results can be of great help to improve the clinical care of a vast majority of patients suffering from such disorders

Pattern of winter depression among Kashmiri patients

Background: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or SAD is a type of recurring major depression having a seasonal pattern of onset and termination of mood episodes. Even though SAD can occur during the summer season, but the winter pattern is most commonly recognized. The prevalence of SAD varies with the climate and latitude of regions. In this study, we aimed to study the clinical profile of SAD among Kashmiri patients. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study among fifty patients attending an outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir, North India. Patients were diagnosed with SAD as per the diagnostic and statistical manual, 5th version, and were assessed for the clinical pattern of winter depression; months of September to May. Results: Patients were predominantly females (72%), in the age group of 20–30 years (36%), and were married (64%). Depressive mood (96%) and anxious mood (74%) were the most common mood symptoms. Decreased energy and decreased libido were present in 82% and 70% of patients. November to late April was the period when the majority of the patients had depressive symptoms (32%). In 44% of the patients, symptoms were most severe in late February. Conclusion: Females predominated the study group while the commonest age group was 20–30 years. Low/anxious mood and reduction in energy were the most common features. The onset of symptoms was in the months of September-December and remission in the months of March-May