%0 Journal Article
%T A pilot genetic study of the continuum between compulsivity and impulsivity in females: the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism
%J Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology and biological psychiatry
%D 2005
%A Baca-Garcia, Enrique
%A Salgado, Beatríz Rodríguez
%A Segal, Helen Dolengevich
%A Lorenzo, Concepción Vaquero
%A Acosta, Mercedes Navio
%A Romero, Manuel Arrojo
%A Hernández, Montserrat Díaz
%A Saiz-Ruiz, Jeronimo
%A Fernandez Piqueras, Jose
%A De Leon, Jose
%V 29
%N 5
%P 713-717
%X According to some authors the obsessive-compulsive (OC) spectrum includes on one extreme, the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and on the other extreme the most impulsive behaviors. This is a controversial idea and other authors define the OC spectrum in different ways. The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene is one of the main genes that control serotonergic function. A polymorphism in the promoter area of this gene classifies subjects with low expression as S individuals (s/s or s/l) and subjects with high expression as L individuals (l/l). This polymorphism was studied in female OCD patients (n = 24), non-impulsive controls (n = 112) and impulsive suicidal patients (n = 118) to support the OC spectrum hypothesis from a genetic perspective. A linear association exists among the serotonin transporter promoter functional genotypes (S versus L individuals) (chi2 linear by linear association = 8.9; df = 1; p = 0.003). The frequency of S individuals (s/l or s/s) was lowest in OCD (54%, 13/24); intermediate in non-impulsive controls (71%, 80/112) and highest in impulsive suicide attempters (82%, 96/117). More importantly, future studies need to consider that genetics may be related to behavioral dimensions (compulsivity to impulsivity) instead of to specific psychiatric disorders defined in clinical terms.<p /><p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Elsevier Publishing
%@ 0278-5846
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2005.04.019