Relation of Promoter Methylation of the Structural Oxytocin Gene to Critical Life Events in Major Depression: A Case Control Study

We collected data on SLEs, promoter methylation of the oxytocin gene (OXT) and depressionseverity from 90 MDD inpatients and 90 matched healthy controls. MDD inpatients had significantly lower OXT methylation than healthy controls. Methylation status of OXT was significantly negatively associated with SLEs in the group of MDD inpatients.