Association of 5-HT(2A) receptor gene polymorphism with major affective disorders: the case of a subgroup of bipolar disorder with low suicide risk.
BACKGROUND
The implication of serotonin in suicide and affective disease explains why the 5-HT(2A) receptor gene has been proposed as a candidate gene in these disorders, although with conflicting results.


METHODS
We analysed the distribution of the 5-HT(2A)-1438A/G genetic polymorphism in 192 patients with major affective disorder (127 bipolar disorders and 65 unipolar disorders) compared to 142 healthy control subjects.


RESULTS
We found a higher frequency of the A allele in affected patients than in control subjects (p =.034), this difference being particularly striking for the subgroup of patients with type I bipolar disorder (p =.015). Patients with no personal and/or familial history of suicide attempts mainly accounted for the excess of the A allele in affected patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The association detected in this study suggests that the 5-HT(2A) receptor gene may play a role in the genetic susceptibility to bipolar disorder, through a specific subgroup of bipolar type I patients with lower risk of suicidal behavior.
Bonnier
Béatrice
B
Hôpital Mignot, Service de Psychiatrie, Le Chesney, France.
Gorwood
Philip
P
Hamon
Michel
M
Sarfati
Yves
Y
Boni
Claudette
C
Hardy-Bayle
Marie-Christine
MC
D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000235:genetics*; D012306:Risk; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*
D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin