Serotonin transporter polymorphism and fluoxetine effect on impulsiveness and aggression in borderline personality disorder

Abstract

Introduction. Impulsiveness and aggressiveness are characteristics of borderline personality disorder and are associated to a serotonergic system dysfunction. Serotonin transporter polymorphisms have been linked to aggressive and impulsive behaviors. The short allele (S) in depression is associated to a worse response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). This study aims to study these polymorphisms to predict the response of aggressive and impulsive behaviors to SSRIs in borderline personality disorder. Method. Fifty-nine patients with DSM-IV borderline personality disorder in accordance with the International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE) and without axis 1 disease were treated with flexible doses of fluoxetine for 12 weeks. The patients were evaluated with the Overt Aggression Scale Modified (OAS-M) at the beginning and at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. Polymorphisms L and S of the serotonin transporter promoter region were determined. Response to fluoxeti