ASSOCIATION BETWEEN NOVELTY-SEEKING AND THE DOPAMINE D3 RECEPTOR GENEIN BIPOLAR PATIENTS - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Recent studies in healthy controls suggest an association between nove lty-seeking (NS) and the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene. In this stu dy, we further investigated the relationship between genes implicated in dopamine as well as serotonin neurotransmission and personality tra its in bipolar (BP) disorder. Scores on the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire were examined in 37 recovered Research Diagnostic Crite ria-diagnosed BP patients genotyped for DRD3, DRD4, and serotonin 2A r eceptor (5HTR2a) polymorphisms. Carriers of DRD3 allele 1 showed signi ficantly lower NS values compared to patients without this allele. Sco res on NS and on harm-avoidance were not related to DRD4 or 5HTR2a pol ymorphisms. These preliminary results suggest a role for D3 receptor i n NS expression in BP patients. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.