No association between two polymorphisms at the 5HT2A gene and bipolar affective puerperal psychosis

Objective: To examine whether variation at two common polymorphisms, T102C and -1438AG, of the serotonin 2A gene (5HT2A) are involved in the puerperal triggering mechanism of bipolar affective puerperal psychosis. Method: A total of 242 parous women diagnosed with bipolar disorder were genotyped for the two polymorphisms. Of these, 165 women had experienced a manic or psychotic episode, according to DSM-IV criteria, within 6 weeks of childbirth ( the puerperal psychosis group). The comparison group comprised of 77 parous women who had not experienced psychiatric disturbance following childbirth. Results: No significant differences between genotype or allelic frequencies were found between the two groups for either polymorphism. Conclusion: The results indicate that variation at two common polymorphisms of the 5HT2A gene does not appear to play a major role in the development of bipolar affective puerperal psychosis.