Association between FOXP2 polymorphisms and schizophrenia with auditory hallucinations

Objective A mutation in the FOXP2 gene has been the first genetic association with a language disorder. Language disorder is considered as a core symptom of schizophrenia. Therefore, the FOXP2 gene could be considered a good candidate gene for the vulnerability to schizophrenia. Methods A set of single nucleotide polymorphisms mainly located in the 5 ' regulatory region of the FOXP2 gene was analysed in a sample of 186 DSM-lV schizophrenic patients with auditory hallucinations and in 160 healthy controls. Results Statistically significant differences in the genotype (P=0.007) and allele frequencies (P=0.0027) between schizophrenic patients with auditory hallucinations and controls were found in the single nucleotide polymorphism rs2396753. These P values changed to 0.07 and 0.0273, respectively, after Bonferroni sequential correction. The haplotype rs7803667T/rslO44776OC/rs923875A/ rs1 358278A/rs2396753A (TCAAA) also showed a significant difference confirmed with a permutation test (P= 0.009). Conclusions These results suggested that the FOXP2 gene may confer vulnerability to schizophrenic patients with auditory hallucinations. Psychiatr Genet 16:67-72 (c) 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.