Attachment style and oxytocin receptor gene variation interact in influencing social anxiety

作者：Notzon S; Domschke K^*; Holitschke K; Ziegler C; Arolt V; Pauli P; Reif A; Deckert J; Zwanzger P

来源：World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 2016, 17(1): 76-83.

DOI：10.3109/15622975.2015.1091502

• Social phobia
• SAD
• OXTR
• gene-environment interaction
• attachment

Objectives: Social anxiety has been suggested to be promoted by an insecure attachment style. Oxytocin is discussed as a mediator of trust and social bonding as well as a modulator of social anxiety. Applying a gene-environment (GxE) interaction approach, in the present pilot study the main and interactive effects of attachment styles and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene variation were probed in a combined risk factor model of social anxiety in healthy probands. Methods: Participants (N=388; 219 females, 169 males; age 24.7 +/- 4.7 years) were assessed for anxiety in social situations (Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory) depending on attachment style (Adult Attachment Scale, AAS) and OXTR rs53576 A/G genotype. Results: A less secure attachment style was significantly associated with higher social anxiety. This association was partly modulated by OXTR genotype, with a stronger negative influence of a less secure attachment style on social anxiety in A allele carriers as compared to GG homozygotes. Conclusions: The present pilot data point to a strong association of less secure attachment and social anxiety as well as to a gene-environment interaction effect of OXTR rs53576 genotype and attachment style on social anxiety possibly constituting a targetable combined risk marker of social anxiety disorder.

• 出版日期2016-1-2