Interactions between functional serotonergic polymorphisms and demographic factors influence personality traits in healthy Spanish Caucasians

Background Data from epidemiological genetic studies suggest that variability in personality traits is explained, at least partly, by genetic factors. Recently, a growing number of molecular genetic studies have suggested the involvement of the serotonin system in specific traits. Objective To investigate the association between three serotonergic polymorphisms [A-1438G (rs6311) of the HTR2A gene, and STin2 VNTR and 5-HTTLPR of the SLC6A4 gene] and personality traits assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory. Materials and methods Four hundred and four unrelated healthy volunteers [50 % males, mean age (standard deviation) =40.5 (11.3)] from Asturias (northern Spain) were genotyped using standard methods. Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory was used fo