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Objective: The study explored associations between personality traits, perceived stress and symptoms of depression in oncological patients characterized by the two variants of the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) polymorphisms., Method: The sample was composed of 41 gynecological cancer patients who completed self-reported questionnaires including the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, the dimension of depression-dejection (D/D) of the Profile of Moods State and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The polymerase chain reaction was also employed to identify genotypes in the serotonin (5HTT) polymorphism., Results: The one-way ANOVA test, across the 5-HTTLPR genotype groups, showed significant effects of the short variants on neuroticism ( p =0.009) and of the long variant on agreeableness ( p =0.022), as well as a tendency to a statistical significance of the l/l variant on consciousness ( p =0.074). Bivariate correlations showed positive correlations of neuroticism with both psychopathological symptoms (D/D r =0.522; PSS r =0.586) in the combined group S, negative association of agreeableness with depression (D/D r=-0.613) and of consciousness with depression (D/D r =-0.750) and perceived stress (PSS r =-0.702) in the group of the long variant of 5-HT-TLPR genotype., Conclusions: Personalized medicine should consider the interaction between genotype and phenotype in reducing levels of clinical psychological distress, highlighting how psychotherapeutic processes should improve patients' quality of life., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None., (© 2022 Giovanni Fioriti Editore s.r.l.)

Objective: Previous studies have suggested that genetic factors, personality traits and coping strategies might play both independent and interacting roles when influencing stress-related anxiety symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine whether Neuroticism and maladaptive coping strategies mediate the association between the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5HTT-LPR) and symptoms of anxiety and depression in elite athletes who experience high levels of competitive stress., Method: One hundred and thirty-three participants were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and then asked to complete the Cope Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. A path analysis was used to test this hypothesis., Results: The 5HTT-LPR was significantly associated with Neuroticism, the coping strategy of Focus on and Venting of Emotions' (FVE) and symptoms of anxiety. FVE and Neuroticism mediated the association between the 5HTT-LPR and symptoms of anxiety (i.e., Cognitive Anxiety and Emotional Arousal Control). Also, Neuroticism was a mediator of the association between the 5HTT-LPR and FVE. Finally, FVE also mediated effects on the relationship between Neuroticism and symptoms of anxiety., Conclusions: The 5HTT-LPR may affect the susceptibility to develop symptoms of anxiety in elite athletes indirectly through mediation by maladaptive coping strategies and Neuroticism., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest: none, (© 2019 Giovanni Fioriti Editore s.r.l.)