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Open Access 01-08-2015 | Original Article

The assessment of the relationship between personality, the presence of the 5HTT and MAO-A polymorphisms, and the severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women

Authors: Anna Jurczak, Małgorzata Szkup, Sylwia Wieder-Huszla, Anna Grzywacz, Agnieszka Samochowiec, Beata Karakiewicz, Jerzy Samochowiec, Elżbieta Grochans

Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health | Issue 4/2015

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between personality, the serotonin transporter (5HTT) and monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) polymorphisms and the severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women. The study involved 272 healthy postmenopausal women from Poland. This survey-based study was performed using the following: the Beck Depression Inventory for depressive symptoms, the Blatt–Kupperman Menopausal Index and the Neuroticism-Extroversion-Openness-Five Factor Inventory for personality. A polymerase chain reaction was employed to identify the DNA polymorphisms. The women were aged 55.4 ± 5.5 years on average. Significant correlations were proved between the allele frequency of the 30-bp variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in the MAO-A promoter region and the incidence of depressive symptoms in the women analysed (p ≤ 0.05), as well as between the severity of climacteric symptoms in the postmenopausal women and the allele frequency of the polymorphism in the 5HTT gene (the 5HTT ‘s’ variant) (p ≤ 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms (p < 0.001). (1) The severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms depends on personality traits. (2) Personality traits are biologically determined, and the level of their expression is associated with the 5HTT polymorphism. (3) Identification of homogeneous groups of women having predispositions to depressive and severe climacteric symptoms may help to implement early prevention programmes for this group of recipients.

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Title: The assessment of the relationship between personality, the presence of the 5HTT and MAO-A polymorphisms, and the severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women
Authors: Anna Jurczak
Małgorzata Szkup
Sylwia Wieder-Huszla
Anna Grzywacz
Agnieszka Samochowiec
Beata Karakiewicz
Jerzy Samochowiec
Elżbieta Grochans
Publication date: 01-08-2015
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health / Issue 4/2015
Print ISSN: 1434-1816
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1102
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0497-0

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The assessment of the relationship between personality, the presence of the 5HTT and MAO-A polymorphisms, and the severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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