A WEAK ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TH AND DRD2 GENES AND BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE-DISORDER IN A SPANISH SAMPLE

Genetic factors play an important role in the aetiology of bipolar aff ective disorder (BP). So far, results of Linkage studies have been lar gely disappointing. We have searched for a possible association betwee n polymorphic DNA markers of two candidate genes (tyrosine hydroxylase , TH; dopamine D2 receptor gene, DRD2) and BP in a population from cen tral Spain. Our results are consistent with the existence of a weak as sociation between these two genes and BP, in such a way that TH and DR D2 could be considered as minor genes contributing to susceptibility.