Loss aversion, a well-documented behavioral phenomenon, characterizes decisions under risk in adult populations. As such, loss aversion may provide a reliable measure of risky behavior. Surprisingly, little is known about loss aversion in adolescents, a group who manifests risk-taking behavior, or in anxiety disorders, which are associated with risk-avoidance. Finally, loss aversion is expected to be modulated by genotype, particularly the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene variant, based on its role in anxiety and impulsivity. This genetic modulation may also differ between anxious and healthy adolescents, given their distinct propensities for risk taking. The present work examines the modulation of loss aversion, an index of risk-taking, and reaction-time to decision, an index of impulsivity, by the serotonin-transporter-gene-linked polymorphisms (5HTTLPR) in healthy and clinically anxious adolescents. Findings show that loss aversion (1) does manifest in adolescents, (2) does not differ between healthy and clinically anxious participants, and (3), when stratified by SERT genotype, identifies a subset of anxious adolescents who are high SERT-expressers, and show excessively low loss-aversion and high impulsivity. This last finding may serve as preliminary evidence for 5HTTLPR as a risk factor for the development of comorbid disorders associated with risk-taking and impulsivity in clinically anxious adolescents.

损失厌恶是一种有据可查的行为现象，是成年人面临风险决策的特征。因此，损失厌恶可以提供对风险行为的可靠衡量。令人惊讶的是，对于青少年（表现出冒险行为的群体）或焦虑症（与风险规避相关）的损失厌恶知之甚少。最后，基于其在焦虑和冲动中的作用，预计损失厌恶会受到基因型的调节，特别是血清素转运蛋白 (SERT) 基因变异。鉴于焦虑和健康的青少年具有不同的冒险倾向，这种基因调节也可能有所不同。目前的工作考察了损失厌恶的调制、风险承担指数和对决策的反应时间、冲动指数、由健康和临床焦虑青少年的血清素转运蛋白基因相关多态性 (5HTTLPR) 引起。研究结果表明，损失厌恶 (1) 确实在青少年中表现出来，(2) 在健康和临床焦虑的参与者之间没有差异，并且 (3) 当按 SERT 基因型分层时，确定了焦虑青少年的一个子集，他们是高 SERT 表达者，并表现出过低的损失厌恶和高冲动性。最后一项发现可作为初步证据，证明 5HTTLPR 是临床焦虑青少年中与冒险和冲动相关的共病疾病发展的危险因素。当按 SERT 基因型分层时，确定了焦虑青少年的子集，他们是高 SERT 表达者，表现出过低的损失厌恶和高冲动性。最后一项发现可能作为 5HTTLPR 的初步证据，作为与临床焦虑青少年的冒险和冲动相关的共病疾病发展的风险因素。当按 SERT 基因型分层时，确定了焦虑青少年的子集，他们是高 SERT 表达者，表现出过低的损失厌恶和高冲动性。最后一项发现可作为初步证据，证明 5HTTLPR 是临床焦虑青少年中与冒险和冲动相关的共病疾病发展的危险因素。