Psychotherapygenetic: Do Genes Influence Psychotherapy Adherence? | Revista de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental (English Edition)

Article information

Abstract

Objective

There is probably an association between genetic factors, personality traits and response to psychotherapy. We propose the new concept of “psychotherapygenetics” as a strategy to study how genetic factors may influence psychotherapeutic response. The aim was to examine the association between polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter gene (SERT) and the dopamine 4-receptor gene (DRD4) with adherence to psychotherapy.

Method

We performed a prospective study of 110 patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) who participated in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). Three polymorphisms were examined: the 5-HTTLPR and the VNTR on the SERT gene and the 7-repeat allele (D4.7) on the DRD4 gene. The dropout rate and the mean number of sessions attended were used as an adherence index.

Results

The presence of the 12-repeat allele on the VNTR polymorphism of SERT was associated with higher adherence to psychotherapy. There was no significant association between the 5-HTTLPR or D4.7 polymorphisms and adherence.

Conclusions

Our preliminary results show a correlation between certain genetic variations and adherence to DBT in patients with BPD. A “psychotherapygenomics” approach could be useful to study how genetic variables may influence patients’ psychotherapy response.

Keywords:

Borderline personality disorder

Genetics

Psychotherapy

Resumen

Objetivo

Probablemente exista una asociación entre factores genéticos, rasgos de personalidad y respuesta a la psicoterapia. Se propone el nuevo concepto de “psicoterapiagenética” como estrategia para estudiar cómo los factores genéticos pueden influir sobre la respuesta terapéutica. El objetivo fue examinar la asociación entre polimorfismos del gen que codifica al transportador de serotonina (SERT) y el gen que codifica para el receptor de la dopamina D4 (DRD4) con la adherencia a la psicoterapia.

Método

Estudio prospectivo con 110 pacientes diagnosticados de Trastorno Límite de la Personalidad (TLP) que participaron en Terapia Dialéctica-Conductual (TDC). Se examinaron tres polimorfismos: el 5-HTTLPR y el VNTR del gen SERT y la presencia del alelo de 7 repeticiones (D4.7) del gen DRD4. Como medidas de adherencia se usaron la tasa de abandonos y la media de sesiones que realizaron.

Resultados

La presencia del alelo de 12 repeticiones del polimorfismo VNTR del SERT se asoció con una mayor adherencia a la psicoterapia. No se observaron asociaciones significativas entre los polimorfismos 5-HTTLPR o D4.7 y adherencia.

Conclusiones

Nuestros resultados preliminares muestran una correlación entre algunas variaciones genéticas y la adherencia a TDC en pacientes con TLP. La estrategia de “psicoterapiagenética” podría ser útil para estudiar cómo las variables genéticas influyen en la respuesta a la psicoterapia.

Palabras clave:

Trastorno límite de la personalidad

Genética

Psicoterapia

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