Association of risperidone treatment response with a polymorphism in the 5-HT(2A) receptor gene

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of the 102-T/C polymorphism in the 5-HT(2A) receptor gene on risperidone efficacy. METHOD: One hundred Han Chinese patients with acutely exacerbated schizophrenia were given risperidone for up to 42 days. The patients were genotyped for 5-HT(2A) polymorphisms. Psychopathology was measured biweekly with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale while the patients were taking risperidone. Generalized estimating equation methods were used to analyze the effects of treatment duration, T/C genotypes, and other prognostic factors on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale performance. RESULTS: Patients with the C/C genotype had lower total scores, negative subscale scores, and general psychopathology scores but not positive subscale scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale than patients with the 102-T/C genotype. Patients with the T/C and T/T genotypes had comparable total and subscale scores. The number of previous hospitalizations and the dose of risperidone also affected Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total scores. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that variations in the 5-HT(2A) receptor gene may influence individual responses to risperidone.