Chunk #28 — Discussion — Selective effects of recent life events related to financial difficulties in interaction with the 5-HTTLPR genotype in the development of depressive symptoms
In studies investigating the contribution of genetic and environmental factors in the development of depression, several twin studies have reported a prominent effect for financial difficulties. For example, in monozygotic female twins discordant for major depression, eight maximally discriminating variables were identified, including current financial difficulties that predicted life history of major depressive disorder in a stepwise multivariate analysis.55 Income and financial status was found to predict early remission from major depressive episodes but not remission during the later course in a study in 1030 female twin pairs.56 Furthermore, when focusing on gender differences, financial, occupational and legal life events showed a stronger effect on the development of depressive episodes in males according to a study of 1057 opposite-sex dizygotic twin pairs.57
