title: Repeated suicidal behaviour: Stressful life events and 5-HTTLPR genetic polymorphism.
abstract: Stressful life events and dysregulated mono-aminergic neurotransmission have been associated with suicidal behaviour. The aim of this investigation was to analyze suicidal behaviour in multiple attempters in relation to the stressful life events, and to the polymorphism of the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene. Multiple suicide attempters, admitted to the University Psychiatric Clinic, were interviewed for the number of previous suicide attempts and for the occurrence of stressful life events, recorded in a Life History Calendar. The patients were further genotyped for 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of SERT. The number of suicide attempts was found to be significantly correlated with the number of negative life events experienced during the 6 months preceding each suicide attempt. The L/L genotype was associated with a reduced number of multiple suicide attempts. These results should prompt future study with a larger number of subjects to further investigate the interaction of genetic and environmental factors in repeated suicidal behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schillani
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goljevscek
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carlino
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Vanna
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aguglia
authors.forename: Tullio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giraldi
keywords: Repeated suicidal behaviour; genetic polymorphism; serotonin transporter; stressful life events