Childhood maltreatment has been reported as a particular stressor of interest for understanding the relationship between 5-HTTLPR variation and depression. The effects of childhood maltreatment were deemed by the consortium members to have long-lasting adverse effects. As a consequence, no time limit between exposure to childhood maltreatment and adult depression outcome will be required. This is also in keeping with the original study. Furthermore, these analyses will assume that childhood maltreatment antedates the development of depression, so specific timing of when the maltreatment occurred relative to any depressive episodes will not be required.
