title: Serotonin transporter polymorphisms and persistent, pervasive childhood aggression.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Joseph H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Beitchman
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baldassarra
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mik
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehtesham
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins