Association of Polymorphism (Val66Met) of... : Neuropsychobiology (original) (raw)

Association of Polymorphism (Val66Met) of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor with Suicide Attempts in Depressed Patients

Marco Sarchiapone
Vladimir Carli
Alec Roy
Licia Iacoviello
Chiara Cuomo
Maria Carmela Latella
Massimo di Giannantonio
Luigi Janiri
Monica de Gaetano
Malvin N. Janal

Neuropsychobiology

(

)

139

145

July 2008

| DOI: 10.1159/000142361

Introduction:

Recent post-mortem studies of suicide victims have implicated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in suicide. Therefore, it was decided to examine the possible role of a gene in the regulation of BDNF activity in relation to suicidal behaviour among depressed patients.

Method:

A series of 170 depressed patients were evaluated for their history of suicide attempts and genotyped for the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (SNP ID: rs6265). Depressed patients who had (n = 97) or had not (n = 73) attempted suicide were compared.

Results:

Depressed patients who carried the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism variant (GA + AA) appeared to show a significantly increased risk of suicidal behaviour. The risk of a suicide attempt was also significantly higher among those reporting higher levels of childhood emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Secondary analyses suggested that depression severity was a significant risk factor only in the wild-type BDNF genotype, and that the risk of suicide attempts was more predictable within the wild-type group.

Conclusion:

These preliminary data suggest that BDNF may play a role in the suicidal behaviour of depressed patients.