@article{BuchmannHellwegRietscheletal.2013,
  author    = {Buchmann, Arlette F. and Hellweg, Rainer and Rietschel, Marcella and Treutlein, Jens and Witt, Stephanie H. and Zimmermann, Ulrich S. and Schmidt, Martin H. and Esser, G{\"u}nter and Banaschewski, Tobias and Laucht, Manfred and Deuschle, Michael},
  title     = {BDNF Val 66 Met and 5-HTTLPR genotype moderate the impact of early psychosocial adversity on plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor and depressive symptoms - a prospective study},
  series = {European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology},
  volume    = {23},
  journal   = {European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology},
  number    = {8},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0924-977X},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.euroneuro.2012.09.003},
  pages     = {902 -- 909},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {Recent studies have emphasized an important role for neurotrophins, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in regulating the plasticity of neural circuits involved in the pathophysiology of stress-related diseases. The aim of the present study was to examine the interplay of the BDNF Val(66)Met and the serotonin transporter promoter (5-HTTLPR) polymorphisms in moderating the impact of early-life adversity on BDNF plasma concentration and depressive symptoms. Participants were taken from an epidemiological cohort study following the long-term outcome of early risk factors from birth into young adulthood. In 259 individuals (119 males, 140 females), genotyped for the BDNF Val(66)Met and the 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms, plasma BDNF was assessed at the age of 19 years. In addition, participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Early adversity was determined according to a family adversity index assessed at 3 months of age. Results indicated that individuals homozygous for both the BDNF Val and the 5-HTTLPR L allele showed significantly reduced BDNF levels following exposure to high adversity. In contrast, BDNF levels appeared to be unaffected by early psychosocial adversity in carriers of the BDNF Met or the 5-HTTLPR S allele. While the former group appeared to be most susceptible to depressive symptoms, the impact of early adversity was less pronounced in the latter group. This is the first preliminary evidence indicating that early-life adverse experiences may have lasting sequelae for plasma BDNF levels in humans, highlighting that the susceptibility to this effect is moderated by BDNF Val(66)Met and 5-HTTLPR genotype.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchmidBlomeyerBuchmannetal.2011,
  author    = {Schmid, Brigitte and Blomeyer, Dorothea and Buchmann, Arlette F. and Trautmann-Villalba, Patricia and Zimmermann, Ulrich S. and Schmidt, Martin H. and Esser, G{\"u}nter and Banaschewski, Tobias and Laucht, Manfred},
  title     = {Quality of early mother-child interaction associated with depressive psychopathology in the offspring - a prospective study from infancy to adulthood},
  series = {Journal of psychiatric research},
  volume    = {45},
  journal   = {Journal of psychiatric research},
  number    = {10},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {0022-3956},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.jpsychires.2011.05.010},
  pages     = {1387 -- 1394},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Evidence from animal research has revealed that less maternal care results in disturbed emotionality in the offspring. In the present study, the long-term impact of maternal responsiveness and stimulation during early mother child interaction on depressive psychopathology was examined until adulthood. Data are from an epidemiological cohort study of the long-term outcome of early risk factors assessed at birth. At age 3 months, mothers and infants were videotaped during a nursing and playing situation. Maternal responsiveness and stimulation as well as infant responsiveness were evaluated by trained raters. At age 19 years, 314 participants (145 males, 169 females) were characterized on measures of depression through interview and questionnaire. In addition, measures of depression and anxiety were available from assessments in childhood. Results indicated that less maternal stimulation during early interaction was associated with a higher risk of depression in the offspring until the age of 19 years. In addition, children of less stimulating mothers showed more depressive symptoms at age 19 years and displayed more anxiety and depressive symptoms between the ages of 4.5 and 15 years. In contrast, maternal responsiveness was unrelated to children's outcome. In accordance with findings from animal research, the present study provides first longitudinal evidence in humans of a continuous and long-term influence of early maternal interaction behavior on the offspring's psychological adjustment until adulthood. The results suggest that the amount of maternally initiated contact behavior in a very early developmental stage may be crucial for children's mental health, regardless of child and maternal responsiveness.},
  language  = {en}
}