title: Possible Association between Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism and Suicide Behavior in Major Depressive Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) genes are major candidate genes for modulating the suicidal behavior. We investigated the association between serotonin transporter polymorphisms and suicidal behavior in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serotonin transporter intron 2 VNTR polymorphism (5-HTTVNTR) and serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) were analyzed in 132 depressed patients with suicidal attempt as well as in 122 normal controls. Hamilton's 17-item Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the Risk-Rescue rating system (RRR) and the Lethality Suicide Attempt Rating Scale updated (LSARS-II) were assessed for the depressed patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although not statistically significant, a trend was found such that the 10/10 and 10/12 alleles of 5-HTTVNTR were more common in suicidal subjects than in control subjects. Comparing allele frequency, those with a 10 allele or 10 allele carriers were higher in suicidal subjects than in control subjects. No difference was noted in 5-HTTLPR genotypes and haplotype distribution between the suicidal subjects and control subjects. The RRR scores in subjects with the 10/10 5-HTTVNTR genotype or 10 5-HTTVNTR allele were significantly lower than those in subjects with other genotypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show the possibility that 10 allele of 5-HTTVNTR is related to suicidal behavior in the suicidal subjects with MDD and suggest that 12 allele of 5-HTTVNTR might be related to more lethality in the suicidal subjects with MDD.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hwa-Young
authors: HY
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jin-Pyo
authors: JP
authors: Hong
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jung-A
authors: JA
authors: Hwang
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Heon-Jeong
authors: HJ
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ho-Kyung
authors: HK
authors: Yoon
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Gangnam Eulji Hospital, Eulji University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Bun-Hee
authors: BH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yong-Ku
authors: YK
authors: Kim
keywords: Haplotype; Major depressive disorder; Polymorphism; Serotonin transporter; Suicide