Serotonin transporter polymorphisms and persistent, pervasive childhood aggression.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the potential association of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene and childhood aggression by testing the 5-HTT variable-number-tandem-repeat and serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR), including the recently discovered Lg allelic variant of 5-HTTLPR.


METHODS
Clinically referred children displaying extreme aggression, with a minimum 2-year history, were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR (N=77) and 5-HTT variable-number-tandem-repeat (N=78). Analyses compared genotype frequencies of the aggressive children with healthy comparison subjects.


RESULTS
The "low expressing" genotypic variants of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism (S/S, Lg/S, Lg/Lg) were significantly associated with childhood aggression.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to report a significant association between the 5-HTTLPR gene and childhood aggression.
Beitchman
Joseph H
JH
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Toronto, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, Ont. Canada, M5T 1R8. Joe_Beitchman@camh.net
Baldassarra
Lidia
L
Mik
Helene
H
De Luca
Vincenzo
V
King
Nicole
N
Bender
Danielle
D
Ehtesham
Sahar
S
Kennedy
James L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics
D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins