GENETIC-STUDIES OF SUICIDAL-BEHAVIOR

Suicidal behavior, like so much else in Psychiatry, tends to cluster i n families. Clinical studies show that a family history of suicide is associated with a raised risk of both attempts at suicide and complete d suicide. Twin studies show that monozygotic twins have a greater con cordance for suicidal behavior than dizygotic twins. Adoption studies also suggest that there may be genetic factors in suicide. Most recent ly, molecular genetic studies report that polymorphisms of the tryptop han hydroxylase gene are associated with suicidal behavior.