Attempted suicide and polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene in Chinese patients with schizophrenia

Abnormalities of serotonin synthesis and metabolism may be associated with suicidality. The serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) is one of the important genes involved in the regulation of serotonin neurotransmission. We examin ed the association of suicidal behavior in Chinese schizophrenic patients w ith a functional polymorphism of the promoter region of the 5-HTT gene (5-H TTLPR). The 5-HTTLPR genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction f or 76 suicidal and 262 non-suicidal patients with a diagnosis of schizophre nia (DSM-IV criteria). All subjects were unrelated to each other, and all w ere Chinese. There was no significant genotypic or allelic association of t he 5-HTTLPR polymorphism with history of attempted suicide. From our result s, this 5-HTTLPR polymorphism is unlikely to have a major effect on suicida l behavior in Chinese patients with schizophrenia. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.