Association between dopamine beta‐hydroxylase polymorphism and attention function in suicide attempters with chronic schizophrenia

Abstract

Background Patients with schizophrenia are at a higher risk for suicide compared with the general population. Dopamine beta‐hydroxylase (DβH) plays a key role in the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine, which is related to suicidal behavior and cognitive regulation. Objective To examine whether there is the effect of DβH 5′‐insertion/deletion (Ins/Del) polymorphism on cognitive performance in suicide attempters with chronic schizophrenia. Methods This polymorphism was detected in 114 suicide attempters and 617 non‐suicide attempters with chronic schizophrenia. Cognitive performance was assessed by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Results The allelic and genotypic frequencies of this polymorphism between two groups did not differ after controlling for covariates (both, p > .05). There were no differences in RBANS scores between two groups after adjusting for covariates (all, p > .05). However, based on the genotype grouping in suicide attempters and non‐attempters, the attention score significantly differed after adjusting for covariates (both, p < .05). Further analysis indicated that this polymorphism was associated with attention score in suicide attempters (p < .05), but not in non‐suicide attempters (p > .05). Conclusions DβH 5′‐Ins/Del polymorphism was not a risk locus of suicide attempters, but it was implicated in attention regulation in suicide attempters with chronic schizophrenia.

Neurocognitive Suicide and Homicide Markers in Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review

“…Regarding the country of origin, four studies were conducted in Spain [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ] and six in China [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ]. Two studies were conducted in the United States [ 53 , 54 ], two studies were carried out in the United Kingdom [ 55 , 56 ], two in Italy [ 57 , 58 ], two in Ireland [ 13 , 59 ], and two in Japan [ 60 , 61 ].…”

“…Those who had a history of active suicide ideation also performed better than those who did not in the MCCB total score ( p = 0.02; Cohen’s d = 0.363), verbal learning ( p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.482), working memory ( p = 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.397), and processing speed ( p = 0.0; Cohen’s d= 0.334) (MCCB) [ 54 ]. However, the last five studies did not show statistical differences between the groups [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 52 ].…”