Suicide, impulsive aggression, and HTR1B genotype.
BACKGROUND
Suicidality and impulsive aggression are partially heritable, and postmortem brain studies suggest that abnormalities in serotonin 1B may be associated with suicide. Studies of serotonin 1B "knockout" mice show an increase in aggressive behavior relative to wild-type mice.


METHODS
We assessed the relationship between genotype at the HTR1B locus and both suicide history and impulsive aggression in personality disorders.


RESULTS
The "G" allele of a polymorphic gene at the HTR1B locus was associated with a history of suicide attempts in white patients with personality disorders [chi(2)(1) = 9.3, p =.01, n = 90]. No relationship was found between HTR1B genotype and self-reported impulsive aggression.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary finding suggests that allelic variability at the HTR1B locus may be associated with the susceptibility to suicide attempts in patients with personality disorders.
New
A S
AS
Psychiatry Service, Bronx VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York 10468, USA.
Gelernter
J
J
Goodman
M
M
Mitropoulou
V
V
Koenigsberg
H
H
Silverman
J
J
Siever
L J
LJ
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 / Q000235:genetics; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C449502:MPT5 protein, S cerevisiae; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins