Association study between the novel functional polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene and suicidal behaviour in schizophrenia

Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2006 May;16(4):268-71. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2005.09.007. Epub 2005 Nov 7.

Abstract

A serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) has been investigated in several genetic association studies, including studies of schizophrenia and suicidality. The current study was designed to examine whether the new long (A/G) variant polymorphism of the 5-HTT gene may be associated with suicide attempts of 290 Caucasian schizophrenic patients. Among these patients, 92 had a history of suicide attempt. No association with history of suicide attempt was found in the multiallelic 5-HTTLPR (p = 0.305), however we found significant association with the intron 2 VNTR polymorphism (p = 0.018). When we performed a haplotype analysis, we found association between suicide attempt and haplotype distribution (p = 0.031). These findings suggest that the intron 2 VNTR polymorphism in serotonin transporter gene may influence suicidal behaviour in schizophrenia.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Humans
  • Introns
  • Linkage Disequilibrium
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Schizophrenia / genetics*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology*
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Suicide, Attempted*

Substances

  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins