Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the association between the serotonin (5-HT)2A gene polymorphism (102T/C) and suicidal behavior in schizophrenic inpatients. We studied 129 subjects who met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to a structured clinical interview (MINI-PLUS). Patients underwent a semistructured interview to assess suicide attempt history and its characteristics. In addition, at least one close relative of the patient was interviewed to assess proband and family suicidal behavior. Healthy controls were students and hospital staff members free of psychiatric and medical illness. Genotypes were determined after polymerase chain reaction amplification of the region of 5-HT(2A)/T102C containing the polymorphic site and digestion with the restriction enzyme Hpall. We found no association between suicidal attempt history and suicide attempt characteristics and genotypic or allele frequencies. Suicidal behavior was also not associated with demographic or psychopathological characteristics. These results suggest that the 5-HT(2A) gene polymorphism (102T/C) is not involved in genetic susceptibility to suicidal behavior, but further studies in a larger sample are needed.