title: Association between a genetic variant in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) and suicidal behavior in patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamin; 5-HT) system has a central role in the circuitry of cognition and emotions. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that genetic variation in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4; 5-HTT) is associated with schizophrenia and suicidal behavior. In this study, we wanted to elucidate whether SLC6A4 variations is involved in attempted suicide among patients with schizophrenia in a Scandinavian case-control sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia from three Scandinavian samples were assessed for presence or absence of suicide attempts, based on record reviews and interview data. Seven SLC6A4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 837 schizophrenia patients and 1,473 control individuals. Association analyses and statistical evaluations were performed with the program UNPHASED (version 3.0.9).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed an allele association between the SNP rs16965628, located in intron one of SLC6A4, and attempted suicide (adjusted p-value 0.01), among patients with schizophrenia. No association was found to a diagnosis of schizophrenia, when patients were compared to healthy control individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The gene SLC6A4 appears to be involved in suicidal ideation among patients with schizophrenia. Independent replication is needed before more firm conclusions can be drawn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, HUBIN Project, Karolinska Institutet and Hospital, R5:00, Stockholm, Sweden. eva.lindholm@igp.uu.se
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lindholm Carlström
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saetre
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosengren
authors.forename: Johan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Thygesen
authors.forename: Srdjan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Djurovic
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Melle
authors.forename: Ole A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Andreassen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Werge
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Agartz
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terenius
authors.forename: Erik G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Jönsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins