Fondazione Centro San Raffaele del Monte Tabor, San Raffaele Vita-Salute University, Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, Milan, Italy

Correspondence to: D Di Bella, MD, PhD, Fondazione Centro San Raffaele del Monte Tabor, San Raffaele Vita-Salute University, Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, Via Stamira d'Ancona 20, 20127 Milan, Italy Tel: +39 02 26433246 Fax: +39 02 26433265 E-mail: dibella.daniela@hsr.it

Recently, a role for a functional polymorphism within the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) in conferring susceptibility to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has been suggested. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that allelic variation of the 5-HTTLPR could be associated with OCD susceptibility or influence the drug response in OCD. One hundred and eighty-one OCD patients were recruited; 92 patients underwent a standardized treatment with fluvoxamine. No significant differences in allele/genotype distribution of the 5-HTTLPR were found between 191 controls and OCD. No differences in fluvoxamine response in the three genotypes groups in OCD were found, considering Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) total scores. Nevertheless, a significant time per genotype interaction was found for the YBOCS subtotal compulsion scores. Considering patients without tic disorder co-diagnosis, a significant time per genotype interaction for both YBOCS total scores and compulsion scores was found

The Pharmacogenomics Journal (2002) 2, 176-181. doi:10.1038/sj.tpj.6500090

serotonin; serotonin reuptake inhibitors; tic disorder; pharmacogenetics; fluvoxamine