Excess tryptophan hydroxylase 17 779C allele in surviving cotwins of monozygotic twin suicide victims

• <i>Objective:</i> To evaluate the relationship of the tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) genotype to suicidality by the study of surviving monozygotic (MZ) cotwins of twins who committed suicide. <i>Method:</i> Twenty-four surviving Swedish MZ twins whose MZ cotwins had committed suicide were compared to 158 demographically sampled Swedish general population controls for TPH alleles. We also examined serotonin transporter alleles. <i>Results:</i> The living MZ cotwins of suicide victims had a significantly higher TPH 17 779C allele frequency than controls. No significant difference was observed for serotonin transporter alleles. <i>Conclusion: </i>These results, in a small sample, suggest the possibility that the 17 779C allele of the TPH gene may be associated with an increased risk of suicide. Further studies in larger samples are needed.

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