Possible association of a polymorphism of the tryptophan hydroxylase gene with suicidal behavior in depressed patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to test the hypothesis that serotonin-system-related genes may be correlated with suicide risk.


METHODS
Fifty-one unrelated Caucasian inpatients with major depression, with or without a history of suicidal acts, were genotyped for a biallelic polymorphism at the tryptophan hydroxylase locus.


RESULTS
The less common tryptophan hydroxylase U allele occurred with greater frequency in the patients who had attempted suicide. A logistic regression analysis confirmed an association between tryptophan hydroxylase genotype and lifetime history of suicide attempts.


CONCLUSIONS
Serotonergic-system-related genes may influence the risk of suicide in persons with major depression.
Mann
J J
JJ
Department of Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, USA.
Malone
K M
KM
Nielsen
D A
DA
Goldman
D
D
Erdos
J
J
Gelernter
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*
D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase