title: Anger- and aggression-related traits are associated with polymorphisms in the 5-HT-2A gene.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Clinical Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Giegling
authors.forename: Annette M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Hans-Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rujescu
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A