DOPAMINE D2-RECEPTOR GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN SCANDINAVIAN CHRONIC-ALCOHOLICS

Alterations in the dopamine system have been hypothesized as a predisp osing factor in alcoholism. The presence of the TaqI A1 and B1 alleles adjacent to the dopamine D2-receptor gene (DRD2) was studied in Scand inavian alcoholic inpatients (n = 74), alcoholics autopsied at a foren sic clinic (n = 19) and controls (n = 8 1). There were no significant differences between controls and the alcoholics, but a tendency of inc reased DRD2 TaqI A1 or B1 allele frequencies in alcoholic groups selec ted for severity (i.e. severity according to DSM-III-R criteria, early onset or severe medical complications due to alcohol abuse) and decre ased frequencies in the corresponding less severe alcoholic group. The present study does not yield evidence for the hypothesis of an associ ation between the DRD2 TaqI A1 or B1 alleles and alcoholism.