The association between leptin receptor polymorphism and suicidal behaviour in depressed adolescents

Abstract

Objective: Suicide is the second leading cause of death in adolescence. Genetic studies implicate the genetic component of suicide independent from associated psychiatric disorder. Although genetics is an important factor that might be associated with suicide, limited progress is achieved to identify the candidate genes in adolescents.

Methods: The study included 97 patients and 106 controls. Five leptin receptor single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) region examined. Depressive scores were measured with Children Depression Inventory and suicidal behaviour was measured by Suicide Probability Scale. Logistic and linear regression analysis used for determining to predictors.

Results: In linear regression analysis (R²: 0.786) both previous suicide attempt (B:5.553, t:2.613 p: .035) and having a mutant allele in rs1171276 SNP region (B:4.346 t:2.220 p: .048) have been associated with suicidal behaviour. In logistic regression analysis, family history of depression (p < .0001, OR: 4.2 [1.7–9.6]) and number of stressful life events (p: .001, OR: 1.7 [1.3–2.1]) predicted depression significantly.

Conclusion: Leptin receptor polymorphism could result in an increase in impulsive behaviour and suicide scores with leptin resistance. Our research is the first study to investigate the relationship between depression, suicidal behaviour and leptin receptor polymorphism in adolescent sample. Similar studies could be carried out on a community basis.

KEY POINTS

• An association has been found between rs1171276 single nucleotide polymorphism of leptin receptor and the suicide probability scores in depressed adolescents.

• Family history of depression and number of stressful life events predict depressive scores significantly.

• Leptin receptor single nucleotide polymorphism may be a risk factor for adolescent suicide by increasing impulsive behaviour.

Keywords:

• Leptin
• depression
• genetics
• impulsive behaviour
• suicide

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to our patient and healthy control groups for their acceptance of participating in our study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study has been supported by Necmettin Erbakan University Scientific Research Projects Commission with project number (161518007).