Gene-environment interaction and suicidal behavior.
Studies have increasingly shown that gene-environment interactions are important in psychiatry. Suicidal behavior is a major public health problem. Suicide is generally considered to be a multi-determined act involving various areas of proximal and distal risk. Genetic risk factors are estimated to account for approximately 30% to 40% of the variance in suicidal behavior. In this article, the authors review relevant studies concerning the interaction between the serotonin transporter gene and environmental variables as a model of gene-environment interactions that may have an impact on suicidal behavior. The findings reviewed here suggest that there may be meaningful interactions between distal and proximal suicide risk factors that may amplify the risk of suicidal behavior. Future studies of suicidal behavior should examine both genetic and environmental variables and examine for gene-environment interactions.
Roy
Alec
A
Psychiatry Service, New Jersey VA Healthcare System, East Orange, NJ 07018-1095, USA. Alec.Roy@va.gov
Sarchiopone
Marco
M
Carli
Vladimir
V
D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004777:Environment; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011584:Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins