Effect of 5-HT1A receptor gene polymorphism on negative and depressive symptom response to antipsychotic treatment of drug-naive psychotic patients.

Abstract

The serotonin 5-HT(1A) receptor may modulate some of the negative, cognitive, and affective symptoms of schizophrenia and is a potential target of action of some antipsychotic drugs. A functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the 5-HT(1A) receptor gene is associated with depression and suicidal behavior. The authors sought to determine whether this polymorphism influences symptom response to antipsychotic drug treatment. Sixty-three drug-naive patients with first-episode psychosis who were genotyped for the -1019C/G polymorphism were recruited for this study and received standard care. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Calgary Depression Scale were used to monitor symptom changes over 3 months. The polymorphism was associated with, and accounted for much of the variance in, changes in negative and depressive symptoms but not positive symptoms. These findings identify an important genetic factor predicting much of the response in negative and depressive symptoms to antipsychotic drug treatment.