A systematic review of association studies investigating genes coding for serotonin receptors and the serotonin transporter: ii. Suicidal behavior

A systematic review of association studies investigating genes coding for serotonin receptors and the serotonin transporter: ii. Suicidal behavior


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ABSTRACT The different serotonin (5-HT) receptors, including the serotonin transporter (5-HTT), are excellent candidate genes for suicide and suicidal behavior, and thus, they have been


investigated in a large number of allelic association studies. The individual results of these studies have been inconsistent and definite conclusions are difficult to establish. A reliable


method for assessing individual studies and generating combined results is provided by systematic reviews using meta-analytical techniques. In this study, we carried out a systematic review


of studies investigating 5-HT receptors and the 5-HTT in suicidal behavior. Studies were identified by means of MEDLINE database searches and by scanning reference lists. More than 190


articles were reviewed and 26 met the inclusion criteria. In all, 14 studies investigated six different 5-HT receptor loci and 12 studies investigated the 5-HTT promoter 44 bp


insertion/deletion polymorphism. Two specific meta-analyses were carried out, pooling studies investigating the 5-HT2A 102 T/C and the 5-HTT promoter loci that included, respectively, a


total of 1599 and 2539 subjects. The combined evidence was significant for association with the 5-HTT locus (Mantel–Haenszel weighted odds ratio (M–Hw OR)=1.17 CI : 1.04–1.32, _P_=0.009),


but not for the 5-HT2A 102 T/C variant (M-Hw OR)=1.09 CI : 0.93–1.27, _P_=0.319). The 5-HTT result was robust and remained significant following sensitivity analysis, suggesting that 5-HTT


may play a role in the predisposition to suicide. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS


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Role of the serotonergic system in the pathogenesis of major depression and suicidal behavior. _Neuropsychopharmacology_ 1999; 21: 99S–105S. Article  CAS  Google Scholar  Download references


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank Alexandra Lalovic, Caroline Kim, Adolfo Sequeira, Iris Groisman, and Firoza Mamdani for their expert academic assistance. This study was partly funded by CIHR


Grant MOP-38078 and an AFSP grant. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Dougals Hospital Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada M Anguelova & G Turecki * MUHC,


McGill University, Montreal, Canada C Benkelfat Authors * M Anguelova View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * C Benkelfat View author


publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * G Turecki View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR


Correspondence to G Turecki. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Anguelova, M., Benkelfat, C. & Turecki, G. A systematic review of


association studies investigating genes coding for serotonin receptors and the serotonin transporter: II. Suicidal behavior. _Mol Psychiatry_ 8, 646–653 (2003).


https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001336 Download citation * Received: 04 February 2003 * Revised: 04 February 2003 * Accepted: 06 February 2003 * Published: 22 July 2003 * Issue Date: 01 July


2003 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001336 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Get shareable link Sorry, a shareable link is


not currently available for this article. Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative KEYWORDS * suicide * suicide attempts * genetic association


studies * genetic polymorphisms * serotonin receptors * serotonin transporter