Genetic, developmental and personality correlates of self-mutilation in depressed patients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether the T allele of G protein beta3 (GNbeta3) is associated with self-mutilation in depressed patients.


METHODS
A history of self-mutilation was systematically inquired about when recruiting depressed patients for a long-term treatment trial. Risk factors such as borderline personality disorder and childhood abuse experiences were systematically assessed, and patients were genotyped for polymorphisms of GNbeta3.


RESULTS
The T allele of GNbeta3, borderline personality disorder and childhood sexual abuse were all significantly associated with self-mutilation in depressed patients. These associations were significant in both univariate and multivariate analyses, and as predicted were stronger in young depressed patients than in depressed patients of all ages.


CONCLUSIONS
If the association between the T allele of GNbeta3 and self-mutilation can be replicated, this may provide clues to understanding the neurobiology of self-mutilation.
Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, New Zealand. peter.joyce@chmeds.ac.nz
Peter R
PR
Joyce
Janice M
JM
McKenzie
Roger T
RT
Mulder
Suzanne E
SE
Luty
Patrick F
PF
Sullivan
Allison L
AL
Miller
Martin A
MA
Kennedy
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D005473:Fluoxetine; D009661:Nortriptyline; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C109150:GYG2 protein, human