Molecular genetics of suicide

Abstract

Background: Suicide is a complex phenomenon that is triggered by environmental factors, and probably partially also by genetic code. Genetic studies performed on suicide brain contributed interesting findings on serotonergic, dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmitter systems and on cholesterol system as well as on cell morphology of the brain.Conclusions: Despite numerous results from studies on particular subpopulations (particular psychiatric diseases, gender, etc.) supporting or rejecting association of polymorphisms and suicide, the complexity of suicidal genetics, as in most of the behavioral traits, seems to result as a consequence of more complicated undisclosed mechanisms of interactions of a larger number of genes.

Keywords

• suicide
• serotonin
• dopamine
• polymorphism
• genetics