Possible association between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and violent suicidal behavior in mood disorders

• Published in: Biological psychiatry (1969) 2000-08, Vol.48 (4), p.319-322
• Main Authors: Bellivier, Frank, Szöke, Andreı̈, Henry, Chantal, Lacoste, Jérome, Bottos, Corinne, Nosten-Bertrand, Marika, Hardy, Patrick, Rouillon, Frederic, Launay, Jean-Marie, Laplanche, Jean-Louis, Leboyer, Marion
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; affective disorder; Alleles; Biological and medical sciences; Bipolar Disorder - genetics; candidate symptoms; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - genetics; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Membrane Transport Proteins; Mood disorders; Mood Disorders - genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Polymorphism, Genetic; Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Serotonin - genetics; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; Serotonin transporter gene; suicidal behavior; Suicide - psychology; Violence - psychology
• ISSN: 0006-3223; 1873-2402
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3223(00)00891-X

Background: Genes involved in the serotonin system are major candidates in association studies of suicidal behavior. In this case–control study we investigated whether the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene encoding the protein responsible for the reuptake of serotonin from the synapse after its release from serotonergic neurons is a susceptibility factor for suicidal behavior. Methods: A functional polymorphism of the 5-HTT gene (a 44–base pair insertion/deletion in the 5-HTT–linked polymorphic region [5-HTTLPR]) was studied in a population of 237 consecutive patients with affective disorder (unipolar or bipolar) and 187 control subjects. Ninety-nine patients had attempted suicide at least once, of whom 26 made a violent attempt. Results: No association was found between the “s” allele of the 5-HTTLPR and suicide attempt; however, there was a significant difference in allele distributions between patients who had made violent suicide attempts and control subjects. Conclusions: A genetic variant of the 5-HTT gene may predispose individuals to violent suicidal behavior. The precise phenotype associated with the 5-HTT gene is unclear, and therefore further studies are required to replicate these findings.