Serotonin-2C and serotonin-1A receptor genes are not associated with psychotic symptomatology of mood disorders

The serotonergic system is involved in both pathophysiology and treatment o f mood disorders. In the present study we investigated the possible influen ce of the polymorphisms of the serotonin-1A and 2C receptor genes on the sy mptomatology of mood disorders, Eighty-four inpatients affected by mood dis orders (72 bipolar and 12 major depressive disorder) were assessed by the O perational Criteria Checklist for Psychotic Illness to score their lifetime psychotic symptomatology, The subjects were also typed for 5HT1A and 5HT2C variants using polymerase chain reaction techniques. No association was fo und between 5HT2C and psychopathology as defined by the four symptomatologi c factors used as phenotype definition (mania, depression, delusion, and di sorganization) even when bipolar subjects were analyzed separately. Only on e subject with the 5HT1A variant was observed, Genetic variation at the 5HT 1A and 5HT2C receptor genes does not, therefore, play a major role in the p athogenesis of mood disorders symptomatology, (C) 2000 Wiley Liss, Inc.