Determining the Effects of Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism on Mood during the Period before the Competition in Japanese Ballet Dancers

The purpose is to investigate the association between polymorphism in serotonin transporter gene and state-trait anxiety, and to explore the possibility of 5-HTTLPR being used as an objective predictor of mental state in Japanese ballet dancers under the stress conditions. Participants were 25 elite student ballet (Elite) dancers with future potential and 19 pro-ballet (Pro) dancers. We administered two psychological questionnaires (STAI: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; BRUMS: Brunel Mood Scale) to the participants on a typical day and on one of stressful days. The frequency of the 5-HTTLPR genotype in the dancers was as follows: s/s, 64.7%; s/l, 35.3%; l/l, 0%. There was only significant difference in STAI scores on before-competition between s/s and s/l genotypes. In this study, the Trait-Anxiety scores of Elite dancers were significantly higher than those of the Pro dancers (P<0.028). The main effects were significant of genotypes in the BRUMS scores (P<0.035) and of Pro/Elite groups (P<0.002); the 5-HTTLPR has played a certain role in the background of state-trait anxiety, and the psychological test scores were strongly influenced by occupational factors. We can predict the status of BRUMS before the competition by examining the Trait-Anxiety in Elite. Dance level (Elite versus Pro) appears to have far more robust effects on dancer mental status than does 5-HTTLPR genotype. The association between Trait-Anxiety scores on a typical day and BRUMS scores under stress was also studied. Our findings reveal that Elite dancers with high Trait-Anxiety on a usual day are more likely to feel apprehensive, unhappy, confused, furious, and weary on the day of competition.