Current perspectives on the role of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene variants in panic disorder: Associations with the disease liability and separation anxiety

Introduction Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene variations are associated with empathy, trust, emotional stability, stress reactivity, social bonding and attachment behaviors. We aimed to explore the impact of three OXTR gene variations (rs53576, rs237902, rs2254298) in susceptibility to panic disorder (PD). We also investigated the possible effects of these variants with separation anxiety scales in the patients with a comprehensive approach covering environmental adversity effects. Material and methods The hypothesis was studied in PD patients and healthy controls with Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. By applying the Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory (SASI) and the Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASA), the relationships between the OXTR gene variants and these scales were also evaluated comprehensively. Results A statistically significant association was found in terms of OXTR rs237902; A allele frequency increased PD probability by 1.585-fold. Moreover, all of the analyzed OXTR variants were found to be associated with childhood and adult separation anxiety possibilities in the patients in the combined analyses of various demographic and clinical data; a striking effect of AA genotype with SASI and ASA was observed in these models. Conclusions The study proves the involvement of oxytocinergic gene variants in PD and it also represents one of the most profound models in terms of gene-environment (GxE) interactions.