Serotonin Transporter Gene Linked To Depression, Binge Drinking
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NeuroEquipo ...@webtv.net (neuro equipoise)
"Serotonin Transporter Gene Linked To Depression, Binge Drinking" Excerpts: "People with short versions of the serotonin transporter gene are more prone to binge drinking and anxiety.
Everyone inherits two copies of each gene, one from each parent. There are two normal variations, or polymorphisms, of the serotonin transporter gene, labeled the long and the short variants. Most people are heterozygous, that is, they have one copy of each variant, but about 30 percent of the Caucasian population are homozygous (carry duplicate copies) of either the long or the short version. This percentage varies depending on the ethnic background of the individual." "The two versions are created by a slight variation in the sequence of DNA in a region of the gene that acts like a dimmer switch, controlling the level of the gene's turning on and off. This normal genetic variation, or polymorphism, leads to transporters that function somewhat differently. The short variant makes less protein, resulting in increased levels of serotonin in the synapse and prolonged binding of the neurotransmitter to receptors on connecting neurons." "The researchers found that the students who carried two copies of the short version of 5-HTT were more likely to report troublesome drinking patterns. Dr. DePetrillo says, "Our findings reveal a significant ***ociation of the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism with increased alcohol consumption behavior in the students that we studied.
Taken together with other research, this finding suggests that genetically mediated differences in serotonergic response play an important role in mediating patterns of alcohol intake." The students with two copies of the short form of the gene engaged more frequently in binge drinking, drank more often to get drunk, and consumed more alcoholic drinks per occasion than did students with the other genotypes.
Another difference the researchers observed was that students with at least one copy of the long variant of the 5-HTT gene tended to consume a smaller number of drinks at a sitting, even though they went out to drink as often as the other students.
Why should the presence of the shorter gene variant make such a difference? The authors speculate that, because individuals who are homozygous for the short version are known to be at risk for higher levels of anxiety, they may use alcohol to reduce tension. Further studies are needed to understand the influence of the serotonin transporter gene on drinking behavior, with special attention given to replication in other ethnic groups." "Does anyone happen to know what the distribution of 5-HTT variations is in various ethnicities and races? There are probably regional differences in distribution well below the level of the major races.
The short version of the serotonin transporter gene also predisposes a person to depression in response to stressful life events.
The serotonin transporter gene codes for the protein in neurons, brain cells, that recycles the chemical messenger after it's been secreted into the synapse, the gulf between cells. Since the most widely prescribed cl*** of antidepressants act by blocking this transporter protein, the gene has been a prime suspect in mood and anxiety disorders. Yet, its link to depression eluded detection in eight previous studies." http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/cat_brain_genetics.html
"Robert McGregor" robert_mcgre...@yahoo.com.au
Hard to disagree with that, isn't it.
Bob
"rosie" readandp...@yahooORhotmail.com
thanks for posting this neuro.....................there is more and more research being done, now that DEPRESSION, THE DISEASE is getting the attention that it deserves.
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rosie http://www.johnkerry.com/features/heartandlifetime/email.html ...
: : "Serotonin Transporter Gene Linked To Depression, Binge Drinking" : : : Excerpts: : : : "People with short versions of the serotonin transporter gene are more : prone to binge drinking and anxiety.
: : Everyone inherits two copies of each gene, one from each parent.
There : are two normal variations, or polymorphisms, of the serotonin : transporter gene, labeled the long and the short variants. Most people : are heterozygous, that is, they have one copy of each variant, but about : 30 percent of the Caucasian population are homozygous (carry duplicate : copies) of either the long or the short version. This percentage varies : depending on the ethnic background of the individual." : : : "The two versions are created by a slight variation in the sequence of : DNA in a region of the gene that acts like a dimmer switch, controlling : the level of the gene's turning on and off. This normal genetic : variation, or polymorphism, leads to transporters that function somewhat : differently. The short variant makes less protein, resulting in : increased levels of serotonin in the synapse and prolonged binding of : the neurotransmitter to receptors on connecting neurons." : : : "The researchers found that the students who carried two copies of the : short version of 5-HTT were more likely to report troublesome drinking : patterns. Dr. DePetrillo says, "Our findings reveal a significant : ***ociation of the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism with : increased alcohol consumption behavior in the students that we studied.
: Taken together with other research, this finding suggests that : genetically mediated differences in serotonergic response play an : important role in mediating patterns of alcohol intake." The students : with two copies of the short form of the gene engaged more frequently in : binge drinking, drank more often to get drunk, and consumed more : alcoholic drinks per occasion than did students with the other : genotypes.
: : Another difference the researchers observed was that students with at : least one copy of the long variant of the 5-HTT gene tended to consume a : smaller number of drinks at a sitting, even though they went out to : drink as often as the other students.
: : Why should the presence of the shorter gene variant make such a : difference? The authors speculate that, because individuals who are : homozygous for the short version are known to be at risk for higher : levels of anxiety, they may use alcohol to reduce tension. Further : studies are needed to understand the influence of the serotonin : transporter gene on drinking behavior, with special attention given to : replication in other ethnic groups." : : : "Does anyone happen to know what the distribution of 5-HTT variations is : in various ethnicities and races? There are probably regional : differences in distribution well below the level of the major races.
: The short version of the serotonin transporter gene also predisposes a : person to depression in response to stressful life events.
: : The serotonin transporter gene codes for the protein in neurons, brain : cells, that recycles the chemical messenger after it's been secreted : into the synapse, the gulf between cells. Since the most widely : prescribed cl*** of antidepressants act by blocking this transporter : protein, the gene has been a prime suspect in mood and anxiety : disorders. Yet, its link to depression eluded detection in eight : previous studies." : : http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/cat_brain_genetics.html :
ctbe ...@aol.com (Christine)
So much so that they have little kids hopped up on anti-depressants.
Everyone is depressed at some point - taking pills and not working through it is an easy out, IMO.
However, I do believe their to be forms or severe depression that do need medical attention. I do not believe the amount of people on meds fit into this group.
"rosie" readandp...@yahooORhotmail.com
: : Everyone is depressed at some point - taking pills and not working through it : is an easy out, IMO.
yes, you are quite correct on this point.
if you are able to work through your depression, you are not a candidate for medication.
: : However, I do believe their to be forms or severe depression that do need : medical attention.
medical literature would back you up on this christine!
I do not believe the amount of people on meds fit into this group.
you are entitled to your opinion, but i wonder how you came to it?
do you know lots of folks on meds that you have determined don't need them?
should i ***ume that you are well educated in the field of psychiatry and are then quite qualified to be this judgmental?
Tono to...@verizon.net
LOL! I just love that old expression "hopped up on...". My anti depressant doesn't "hop me up" at all. It does help keep me from thinking about suicide most of the time like I used to.
Yes, the commercials on TV for anti depressants disgust me! They say something like "if you have been depressed for two weeks or more..." Well who the hell hasn't ever been depressed for two weeks or more? Anyone? That is what makes it all sound bad for someone like me, who happened to have severe depression for over 35 years.
I tell someone I'm on an anti depressant and they get this silly "hopped up" on "happy pills" idea!
I have no idea what that last sentence means?
Tono
"Gail" sweetpawprints_...@hotmail.com
I believe that maybe she is trying to fit in? ;) Best, Gail
"Robert McGregor" robert_mcgre...@yahoo.com.au
Yeah, having had diagnosed severe depression for about 40 years before being conned into taking anti depressants, I too know from experience it would be more accurately called fogged down on happy pills.
Bob
"rosie" readandp...@yahooORhotmail.com
.
: > : > : > So much so that they have little kids hopped up on anti-depressants.
: ...
: LOL! I just love that old expression "hopped up on...". My anti : depressant doesn't "hop me up" at all. It does help keep me from : thinking about suicide most of the time like I used to.
: : : tono, i sure would like to know what medication in the antidepressant cl*** is the one that HOPS folks UP!
:) rosie
"rosie" readandp...@yahooORhotmail.com
: ...
: : : > > However, I do believe their to be forms or severe depression that do : need : > > medical attention. I do not believe the amount of people on meds fit : into this : > > group.
: > : > I have no idea what that last sentence means?
: > : > Tono : : I believe that maybe she is trying to fit in? ;) : Best, : Gail : : LOL!
"rosie" readandp...@yahooORhotmail.com
...
: Yeah, having had diagnosed severe depression for about 40 : years before being conned into taking anti depressants, I : too know from experience it would be more accurately called : fogged down on happy pills.
: : Bob : : yes, robert, i can imagine you were a curmudgeon of a drunk!
diagnosing you as a depressive, rather than a stubborn old alcoholic is quite believable!
you say you were "fogged down" by your medication?
sounds like sedatives were prescribed to me, and that speaks volumes!
i'm happy for you, and glad that you were finally able to stop your meds, stop your drinking, and come "skipping" down the road of happy destiny with all of us!
:) (((((((((((((robert)))))))))))))))))
"Robert McGregor" robert_mcgre...@yahoo.com.au
Faark, that's even more than ample bullshit to print another big book.
Bob
"JB" JBCa...@coldman.com
Extract from: rosie readandpost (readandpostREMOVET...@yahoo.com) dismay?
absolutely not BM!
working with your prescribing physician is what i advise!
if you DON'T NEED or are prescribed the WRONG ANTIDEPRESSANT (having negative reactions) that is between you and your physician.
perhaps your depression was situational in nature and all you had to do was dry out, and sober up!
(again, a decision between you and your doctor.)
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Extract from: rosie (so...@toomanymalcontents.com) :................... Spiritual malady is one area where pills are completely : useless, yet that malady can be confused with other issues. However, : pills may still be required to help overcome immediate concerns whilst : longer-term strategies are determined.
your long term strategy was to get through THE STEPS and the depression would go away?
that is NOT clinical depression!
that is SITUATIONAL depression and does NOT need to be medicated.
of course folks are "depressed" "sad" "anxious" when they first sober up and begin to "repair" their lives using THE STEPS.
its hard, intense work.
i have seen many folks who think that taking prozac etc, will ease that burden, to no avail.
taking action, being of service, and continuing to do the next right thing is generally the answer for them!
the SITUATIONAL depression lifts.........................PERIOD!
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Extract from: JB (JBCa...@coldman.com) Here in the UK, concern has been recently expressed about the widespread use of antidepressants. Some claim that doctors find it easier to prescribe pills rather than provide or refer their patients to services aimed at discovering the root cause of their depression and then tailoring treatment to the individual's needs.
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"rosie" readandp...@yahooORhotmail.com
: Faark, that's even more than ample bullshit to print another : big book.
: : Bob : : Resentment Prayer ...from the story "Freedom from Bondage" in the "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous Pages 544-553 starting at the top of page 552 "One morning, however, I realized I had to get rid of it, for my reprieve was running out, and if I didn't get rid of it I was going to get drunk-and I didn't want to get drunk any more. In my prayers that morning I asked God to point out to me some way to be free of this resentment. During the day a friend of mine brought me some magazines to take to a hospital group I was interested in, and I looked through them and a "banner" across the front of one featured an article by a prominent clergyman in which I caught the word 'resentment.' "He said, in effect:" 'If you have a resentment you want to be free of, if you will pray for the person or the thing you resent, you will be free.
If you will ask in prayer for everything you want for yourself to be given to them, you will be free.
Ask for their health, their prosperity, their happiness, and you will be free.
Even when you don't really want it for them, and your prayers are only words and you don't mean it, go ahead and do it anyway.
Do it every day for two weeks and you will find you have come to mean it and to want it for them, and you will realize that where you used to feel bitterness and resentment and hatred, you now feel comp***ionate understanding and love.' "It worked for me then and it has worked for me many times since, and it will work for me every time I am willing to work it.
Sometimes I have to ask first for the willingness, but it always comes. And because it works for me, it will work for all of us. As another great man says. 'The only real freedom a human being can ever know is doing what you ought to do because you want to do it.'" "This great experience that released me from the bondage of hatred and replaced it with love is really just another affirmation of the truth I know: I get everything I need from Alcoholics Anonymous-everything I need I get-and when I get what I need I invariably find that it is just what I wanted all the time."
"rosie" readandp...@yahooORhotmail.com
: Here in the UK, concern has been recently expressed about the : widespread use of antidepressants.
are you saying that you are concerned for depressives too?
:Some claim that doctors find it : easier to prescribe pills rather than provide or refer their patients : to services aimed at discovering the root cause of their depression : and then tailoring treatment to the individual's needs.
alas, we have doctors like that here in the USA also.
but, i believe that we have FAR MORE doctors in the USA, who treat the sometimes occult and misdiagnosed disease of depression correctly.
"JB" JBCa...@coldman.com
Those who have understood my posts on the subject of the treatment of mental disorders know the answer to your question.
JB
"rosie" readandp...@yahooORhotmail.com
JB, i KNOW what you say, but i was hoping for something more like "the truth" from you..............
<sigh> ...
: : ...
: > : > : Here in the UK, concern has been recently expressed about the : > : widespread use of antidepressants.
: > : > are you saying that you are concerned for depressives too?
: : Those who have understood my posts on the subject of the treatment of : mental disorders know the answer to your question.
: : JB : :
"Gail" sweetpawprints_...@hotmail.com
This topic has got me to thinking about my own antidepressant use. When I stopped drinking in '99 I was prescribed antidepressants. When I look back, I was still depressed. I started spending money compulsively. I started making decisions compulsively. I was compulsive about where the things in my home were to be placed and have gone around for 5 years moving any and everything and putting it back in place.
Some of you know that I was hospitalized in November. I was diagnosed with a mood disorder and put on a drug that really ****ed me up. I came out of the hospital thinking that we had all kind of money in the bank. For the first time in our marriage, I spent more than we had in the bank and made a mess of our bank account. I finally got that straightened out. Then the drug and antidepressant I had been put on made me a veggie for about a month. Was taken off the Resperdal and left on Zoloft. Still, I was compulsive about everything being in it's place. Also, I became compulsive or obsessed about AA and religion. Went back in the hospital and was diagnosed as schitzo-affective disorder. Was taken off the Zoloft and left on Seroquel at bedtime. Then, a month later, my doctor says I am not schitzo-affective. I have my own idea of what happened to me. I will keep that to myself right now.
Since I have been off the antidepressant I have been able to concentrate on our money and bills. I am getting organized and paying extra on some.
When the girl I talked about in another post came to clean my house she moved absolutely everything in here around. Nothing was in it's place where I had it. I was able to leave it where she left it. Well, most of it. ;) I can't remember how long it has been when I could just leave things as is. I was compulsive like that when drinking, too.
What I am getting at is that I do believe that antidepressants did alter my judgment and behavior. Not for the better, either.
I can't say that more people are on them than should be. I don't know. I do know and am able to recognize how they may have affected me. They never made me feel good or up. I feel good and up now that I am not taking them.
All the best, Gail
"JB" JBCa...@coldman.com
schitzo-affective. I Gail, I'm convinced that when my husband had his nervous breakdown, the electro-shock therapy he had brought about his cure.
I'm convinced that AA's 12 Step programme is a far more effective tool for me to use when I'm finding life difficult to cope with than antidepressants (which I've taken at various times since I was 16).
I've not taken ad's since the beginning of 2003 because neither my GP nor I have thought it necessary for me to take them..
Please note: I am not saying that because I don't need antidepressants no-one does.
All the best JB
Tono to...@verizon.net
Shhhhh. I'll contact you later and set you up with my dealer. This is an email and not on the group isn't it? That would really blow my cover if I accidently posted this to the group! ;-) Tono
"Gail" sweetpawprints_...@hotmail.com
Noted..:) Best, Gail
"rosie" readandp...@yahooORhotmail.com
: I'm convinced that AA's 12 Step programme is a far more effective tool : for me to use when I'm finding life difficult to cope with than : antidepressants a PERFECT example of situational depression, is when you can use the 12 step program to lift it!
let me say it again: IT IS TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEPRESSION............................one needs therapy and/or medication, and the other simply needs a "good 12 step program".
"rosie" readandp...@yahooORhotmail.com
LOL! TONO!
--
http://www.johnkerry.com/features/heartandlifetime/email.html ...
: : > : Christine wrote: : > .
: > : > : > : > : > : > So much so that they have little kids hopped up on : > anti-depressants.
: > : : > : > : > "Tono" <to...@verizon.net> wrote in message : > ...
: > : > : LOL! I just love that old expression "hopped up on...". My anti : > : depressant doesn't "hop me up" at all. It does help keep me from : > : thinking about suicide most of the time like I used to.
: > : : > : : > : : > : > tono, : > i sure would like to know what medication in the antidepressant : > cl*** is the one that HOPS folks UP!
: > :) : : Shhhhh. I'll contact you later and set you up with my dealer.
This : is an email and not on the group isn't it? That would really blow : my cover if I accidently posted this to the group! ;-) : : Tono
"Robert McGregor" robert_mcgre...@yahoo.com.au
program".
"let me say it again"?
rosie the evader continues to evade the fact I was first diagnosed with depression app 5 years *before* I started drinking, so not surprising to see her tell outright fiction to rationalise her drug habit.
"rosie readandpost" <readandpostREMOVET...@yahoo.com> wrote in message ...
Bob
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