Association between the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and anger-related traits in Korean schizophrenic patients.
BACKGROUND
The serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) short allele confers a general sensitivity to environmental stimuli, and anger is suspected to have a direct influence on aggressive behavior in schizophrenia. In the present study, we investigated whether the 5-HTTLPR gene was associated with aggression and/or anger-related traits in schizophrenia.


METHODS
A total of 103 schizophrenic patients, including 46 aggressive and 57 nonaggressive patients, were recruited from psychiatric hospitals in Korea. All of the aggressive patients had committed at least 2 significant violent acts requiring repeated confinement in each of the 2 weeks preceding study inclusion, as well as 2 or more serious assaults on others. Blood samples were collected from all patients for 5-HTTLPR genotyping, and all patients underwent clinical assessments for symptoms of schizophrenia, aggressive behavior and anger-related traits.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the distribution of the 5-HTTLPR genotype/alleles between the aggressive and nonaggressive patients. Aggressive patients carrying the s allele exhibited more anger-related traits than those with the l/l homozygotes, but this difference was not significant after correction for multiple testing. Furthermore, there was a dose-dependent relationship between the s allele and high angry temperament subscale scores in the aggressive patients.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings seem to support the idea that 5-HTTLPR predisposes aggressive patients to exhibit more anger-related traits, though they do not support the existence of a direct association between 5-HTTLPR and aggressive behavior in schizophrenia in the Korean population; however, larger studies are needed.
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul-Paik Hospital, Inje University, Seoul, South Korea.
Youl-Ri
YR
Kim
Jeong Won
JW
Jahng
Sung Kil
SK
Min
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D000483:Alleles; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000786:Anger; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins