The 5HTTLPR polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene has been found to be significantly associated with suicide and it has also been described that suicidality is associated with increased impulsiveness, aggression and hopelessness. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible association of affective temperaments, hopelessness, aggression, impulsiveness and the 5HTTLPR s allele in a psychiatrically healthy population who have never attempted suicide.

135 psychiatrically healthy women participated in the study. All participants completed the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), the Beck Hopelessness Scale and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego questionnaire (TEMPS-A). 5HTTLPR genotypes were determined by PCR. Results were analysed using Analysis of Covariance and forward stepwise regression.

We found a strong association between the presence of the s allele and the studied characteristics. ANCOVA indicated that there is a strong relationship between Hopelessness and aggressiveness, impulsiveness and affective temperaments. Forward stepwise regression indicated a significant role for depressive temperament, anxious temperament, irritable temperament, hostility and motor impulsiveness in predicting hopelessness. Adjusted whole model R2 was 37.61%.

Our study indicates a strong association between the s allele and factors related to increased risk of suicide. Our results show that depressive, anxious and irritable affective temperaments, hostility and motor impulsiveness influence Hopelessness, which has an important predictive role in the emergence of suicidal behaviours. Our results have implication for the recognition and prevention of possible emergence of suicidal behaviours within the healthy, non-depressed population.