Exploring epistasis in candidate genes for antisocial personality disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize high-order gene-to-gene interactions in antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). METHODS: Participants for case-control study were selected from the inmate male population in Bellavista prison from Medellin. The study included 310 individuals with ASPD and 200 with no ASPD. Diagnoses were made according to a best-estimate procedure based on a semistructured interview (diagnostic interview for genetic studies 3.0). We genotyped some single-nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes with main serotonin pathway effects. The gene-gene interaction was examined using the multifactor dimensionality reduction method version 2.0.α. We assessed model sizes of 2 and 3 loci and counted the number of replicates that contained the causal loci in the final best model that was identified using 10-fold cross validation. RESULTS: We find epistatic interaction with catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), tryptophan hydroxylase, and 5-HTR2A (serotonin receptor) with ASPD. This data supports an important role of polymorphism in serotonin receptors and low enzyme activity of COMT for susceptibility to ASPD. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that gene interactions between genetic variants in COMT, 5-HTR2A and tryptophan hydroxylase gene would be associated with ASPD and influence the dopamine rewards pathways and modulate serotonin levels in ASPD.

Confidencialidad de la orientación sexual en psiquiatría / Confidentiality of sexual orientation in psychiatry

Introduction: The objective of this study was to explore which are the limits to confidentiality that 31 psychiatrists, from Santiago (Chile) and Medellín (Colombia), consider as appropriate when dealing with information on sexual orientation in psychiatric practice. Methods: A questionnaire containing twenty assertions was applied to explore agreement with them. A scale ranging from 1 (no agreement at all) to 5 (complete agreement) was used. Results: There was agreement on the need of inquiring sexual orientation during the psychiatric encounter. There was no agreement, however, on the appropriateness of registering this information in the medical record, irrespective of the sexual orientation of the patient. History of sexual abuse of children or disabled people was considered as a valid waiver of this duty of confidentiality when answering a judicial request. On the contrary, the requirements of information coming from insurance companies were not considered as valid reasons for breaching confidentiality. Psychiatrists do not agree with disclosing their sexual orientation to patients. Conclusion: Psychiatrists agree in a number of situations in which sexual orientation of patients should be either disclosed or kept confidential.

Introducción: El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer cuáles son los límites que 31 psiquiatras de Santiago (Chile) y Medellín (Colombia) consideran en la confidencialidad de la orientación sexual de los pacientes, durante la atención psiquiátrica. Métodos: Se empleó una encuesta anónima con veinte afirmaciones y cinco opciones de respuesta según el grado de acuerdo. Se hizo el análisis comparativo de las medianas para los grados de acuerdo. Resultados: Los participantes estiman pertinente indagar por la orientación sexual durante la consulta pero no registrarla en la ficha clínica, independientemente de que sea homosexual, bisexual o heterosexual. El abuso sexual de menores de edad o personas con discapacidad mental o física es un límite que permite la ruptura de la confidencialidad, ante una solicitud legal. Por el contrario, se encontró rechazo al registro de la orientación sexual en licencias médicas o certificados médicos para compañías de seguro o de salud, en otras situaciones clínicas planteadas se conservó esta tendencia a la conservación confidencial. Los psiquiatras no estuvieron de acuerdo con revelar su propia orientación sexual a los pacientes. Conclusiones: Existen límites tanto para la conservación como para la revelación de la información confidencial de la orientación sexual, con grados similares de acuerdo entre los psiquiatras.