Nobile B, Olie E, Ramoz N, et al. - Examining the link between A118G polymorphism (rs1799971) in ORPM1 (the gene encoding opioid receptor mu 1) and suicidal depression, a higher risk of suicidal ideation (SI) (and possibly suicidal behavior) was observed in outpatients with depression harboring the A allele vs those having the G allele.

• According to growing evidence, depression with SI may be a specific phenotype with its own characteristics.

• A large, prospective, naturalistic cohort (GENESE) of French adult outpatients with depression (DSM-IV criteria), treated and followed for 6 weeks, was analyzed.

• Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, depression severity was examined, and SI was assessed using the suicidal item of the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale.

• A significant association between AA/AG genotypes of the A118G polymorphism and suicidal depression was found in non-adjusted (odds-ratios (OR) =  2.32, 95% CI = [1.28; 4.18]) as well as in the adjusted models (OR =  2.54, 95% CI = [1.35; 4.78]).