Anger- and aggression-related traits are associated with polymorphisms in the 5-HT-2A gene.
BACKGROUND
This study investigates the association of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the serotonin 2A (5-HT-2A) receptor gene with anger-, aggression- and suicide-related behavior in a total of 566 subjects (203 German suicide attempters and 363 German community-based healthy volunteers).


METHODS
Anger- and aggression-related traits were assessed by using the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) and the Questionnaire for Measuring Factors of Aggression (FAF).


RESULTS
Three (rs643627-rs594242-rs6311: A-C-T), two (rs594242-rs6311: C-T) and a single functional (rs6311: T) marker were protective against suicidal behavior. The complementary makers (rs594242-rs6311: G-C and rs6311: C) were associated with increased risk for non-violent (p=0.01; p=0.009 respectively) and impulsive suicidal behavior (p=0.03; p=0.01 respectively). Furthermore, CC-homozygotes for the functional SNP rs6311 reported more anger- (p=0.004) and aggression-related behavior (p=0.011).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that variations in the 5-HT-2A gene may modify the phenotype of suicide-, anger-, and aggression-related behavior. Further studies should especially focus on intermediate personality traits in this context.
Giegling
Ina
I
Molecular and Clinical Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich, Germany.
Hartmann
Annette M
AM
Möller
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Rujescu
Dan
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000786:Anger; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology
D005819:Genetic Markers; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A