Sensitivity of Short and Long Allele Carriers of the 5-HTTLPR to Environmental Threat Post Hydrocortisone Administration
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-11-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The current study will test the causal relationship between elevated levels of cortisol and
the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) as these factors influence sensitivity to
environmental threat. The investigators predict that carriers of the short allele of the
serotonin transporter gene who have elevated cortisol levels will be most sensitive to
threatening environments, whereas carriers of the long allele who do not have elevated
cortisol (placebo subjects) will be least sensitive.