Dimensional Traits of Schizotypy Associated With Glycine Receptor GLRA1 Polymorphism: An Exploratory Candidate-Gene Association Study.

Schizotypy captures the underlying genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia. However, the genetic underpinnings of schizotypy remain unexplored. The authors examined the relationship between single nucleotide poly-morphisms (SNPs) and schizotypy. A sample of 137 subjects (43 healthy controls, 34 subjects with schizotypal personality disorder [SPD], 32 with borderline personality disorder, and 25 with other personality disorders) completed the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Subjects were genotyped using a custom array chip. Principal component analysis was used to cluster SPQ variables. Linear regression tested for associations between dimensional schizotypy and SNPs. Logistic regression tested for associations between SNPs and SPD diagnosis. There were significant associations between the minor alleles of three SNPs within the glycine receptor alpha 1 subunit (GLRA1) and the disorganized schizotypy dimension, even after Bonferroni correction. There were no significant associations between any SNPs and the categorical SPD diagnosis. Glycine receptor pathways may have an impact on dimensional traits of psychosis.

Clinical features and psychiatric comorbidities of borderline personality disorder patients with versus without a history of suicide attempt.

Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are at high risk for suicidal behavior. However, many BPD patients do not engage in suicidal behavior. In this study, we compared clinical features of BPD patients with or without a history of suicide attempts and healthy volunteers. Compared with healthy volunteers, both BPD groups had higher Affective Lability Scale (ALS), ALS - Depression-Anxiety Subscale, Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS), and Lifetime History of Aggression (LHA) scores and were more likely to have a history of temper tantrums. BPD suicide attempters had higher ALS, ALS - Depression-Anxiety Subscale and LHA scores and were more likely to have a history of non-suicidal self-injury or temper tantrums compared to BPD non-attempters. Also, BPD suicide attempters were more likely to have a history of comorbid major depressive disorder and less likely to have comorbid narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) in comparison to BPD non-attempters. About 50% of study participants in each BPD group had a history of comorbid substance use disorder (SUD). Our study indicates that BPD patients with a history of suicide attempt are more aggressive, affectively dysregulated and less narcissistic than BPD suicide non-attempters.