A meta-analysis of the association of the HOPA12bp polymorphism and schizophrenia

Uncommon polymorphisms, particularly balanced uncommon polymorphisms, present a significant challenge to our understanding of their role in behavior. We have recently demonstrated that an uncommon candidate gene polymorphism for schizophrenia, known 12(bp) as HOPA, is the defining polymorphism for a large X-chromosome haplotype in population disequilibrium and that it is associated with a positive syndrome of psychosis. Not all studies, however, have shown this effect. In this report, we reviewed prior studies and conducted meta-analysis of studies using probands of northern European extraction. We found that the presence of the HOPA 12bp is a significant risk factor for psychosis for both men and women and suggest that differences in the case definition of schizophrenia may affect the strength of the association. Psychiatr Genet 16:73-76 (c) 2006 Lippincoft Williams & Wilkins.