Year: 2001 Source: Journal of Psychiatric Research, v.35, no.3, (May-June 2001), p.173-176 SIEC No: 20020782

Evidence indicates that a serotonergic dysfunction is involved in the biological susceptibility to suicide. The A-1438G polymorphism of the serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor gene has been associated with suicide but the results are inconsistent. Using 151 Japanese completed suicides, we examined the link between suicide and the polymorphism of the 5-HT2A gene. No significant difference in genotype distribution or allele frequencies of the polymorphisms was found between completed suicides & the comparison group. Therefore, the polymorphism of the 5-HT2A gene is not likely to have a major effect on the biological susceptibility of suicide. (25 refs.)