Background
Personality trait is thought to be one of the important factors for vulnerability
to depression. The relation between serotonin transporter (5-HTT) polymorphism and
anxiety-related personality has been investigated in genetic research. In this study,
we investigated the relation between in vivo regional 5-HTT binding in the brain and
personality inventory measures in normal male volunteers.
Methods
Thirty-one healthy male volunteers underwent positron emission tomography scans with
11C-labeled 3-amino-4-(2-dimethylaminomethyl-phenylsulfanyl) benzonitrile ([11C]DASB) to measure 5-HTT and completed revised NEO Personality Inventory. Correlation
of [11C]DASB binding potentials (BP) with personality inventory measures was calculated
using region-of-interest analysis and statistical parametric mapping based on the
BP images.
Results
Neuroticism was positively correlated with 5-HTT binding in the thalamus (p = .004).
No significant correlation was observed in any other brain region. Within the neuroticism
dimension, the facet of depression was positively correlated with 5-HTT binding in
the thalamus (p = .001).
Conclusions
Subjects with higher thalamic 5-HTT binding are more likely to express higher levels
of neuroticism and depressive feeling. Serotonin transporter binding in the thalamus
might be a marker of vulnerability to depression.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 09, 2007
Accepted:
November 9,
2006
Received in revised form:
November 3,
2006
Received:
August 4,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
