title: A pilot genetic study of the continuum between compulsivity and impulsivity in females: the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism.
abstract: According to some authors the obsessive-compulsive (OC) spectrum includes on one extreme, the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and on the other extreme the most impulsive behaviors. This is a controversial idea and other authors define the OC spectrum in different ways. The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene is one of the main genes that control serotonergic function. A polymorphism in the promoter area of this gene classifies subjects with low expression as S individuals (s/s or s/l) and subjects with high expression as L individuals (l/l). This polymorphism was studied in female OCD patients (n = 24), non-impulsive controls (n = 112) and impulsive suicidal patients (n = 118) to support the OC spectrum hypothesis from a genetic perspective. A linear association exists among the serotonin transporter promoter functional genotypes (S versus L individuals) (chi2 linear by linear association = 8.9; df = 1; p = 0.003). The frequency of S individuals (s/l or s/s) was lowest in OCD (54%, 13/24); intermediate in non-impulsive controls (71%, 80/112) and highest in impulsive suicide attempters (82%, 96/117). More importantly, future studies need to consider that genetics may be related to behavioral dimensions (compulsivity to impulsivity) instead of to specific psychiatric disorders defined in clinical terms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Ramon y Cajal, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baca-García
authors.forename: Beatríz Rodríguez
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.forename: Helen Dolengevich
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: Concepción Vaquero
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
authors.forename: Mercedes Navio
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: Manuel Arrojo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Montserrat Díaz
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Jeronimo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saiz-Ruiz
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernandez Piqueras
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Leon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000235:genetics*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000235:genetics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D004247:DNA