Interaction Between Childhood Trauma and Serotonin Transporter Gene Variation in Suicide

This study examined whether the 5-HTTLPR gene alone, or interacting with childhood trauma, was predictive of suicidal behaviour in substance-dependent patients. 306 abstinent male African-American substance-dependent patients were asked whether they had ever attempted suicide & administered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. The distribution of 5-HTTLPR genotypes did not differ between patients & a control group of 132 male African Americans, nor between suicide attempters & nonattempters. However, patients with low expression 5-HTTLPR genotypes & above-median Childhood Trauma Questionnaire scores were more likely to have attempted suicide. (47 refs.) JA