Association of polymorphisms of the serotonergic pathways with clinical traits of impulsive-aggression and suicidality in adolescents: a multi-center study.
OBJECTIVE
Suicidal behaviour runs in families. This study evaluated association between common polymorphisms in the serotonergic and adrenergic candidate genes (HTR2A, 5HTTLPR, and MAOA) and suicidality, psychopathology and aggression in adolescents.


METHODS
Four groups of adolescents were included: Suicidal (N=35) and non-suicidal (N=30) psychiatric inpatients, suicide attempters admitted to three psychiatric emergency rooms (N=51) and a community-based control group (N=95). All were genotyped and underwent psychological assessment for relevant endophenotypes and plasma serotonin content (p5HT) was measured.


RESULTS
Homozygosity for the T allele of the HTR2A 102T/C polymorphism was associated with lower impulsivity (P=0.03) and aggression (P=0.01) compared to TC carriers. Low activity MAOA genotypes were associated with suicidality (P=0.04). No association was found between p5HT level and the examined polymorphisms.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings are in line with the associations described in adult suicidal population. Further studies are needed to evaluate the gene ? environmental interactions in larger samples in an attempt to clarify the possible role of genetic factors in pediatric suicidal and impulsive-aggressive behaviour.
Zalsman
Gil
G
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel. zalsman@post.tau.ac.il
Patya
Miriam
M
Frisch
Amos
A
Ofek
Hadas
H
Schapir
Lior
L
Blum
Ilana
I
Harell
Daniella
D
Apter
Alan
A
Weizman
Abraham
A
Tyano
Samuel
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D044348:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D044348:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT2; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase