The TaqI A1 allele of the dopamine D2 receptor gene and alcoholism in Brazil: Association and interaction with stress and harm avoidance on severity prediction
Chd. Bau et al., The TaqI A1 allele of the dopamine D2 receptor gene and alcoholism in Brazil: Association and interaction with stress and harm avoidance on severity prediction, AM J MED G, 96(3), 2000, pp. 302-306
Allele and genotype frequencies of the TaqI A polymorphism of dopamine D2 r
eceptor (DRD2) gene were compared in 115 alcohol-dependent Brazilian males
and 114 ethnically matched controls. Regression analyses were performed to
test for an interactive effect Between the DRD2 TaqI Al allele and measures
of stress and harm avoidance on severity of alcoholism and number of antis
ocial personality symptoms. A slightly positive association of DRD2 TaqIA1
genotypes with alcoholism was observed, by standard and molecular heterosis
approaches. The DRD2 TaqI Al allele showed significant interaction with st
ress and harm avoidance in predicting the severity of physiologic dependenc
e, and with harm avoidance for the number of antisocial personality symptom
s. Separate partial correlation analyses showed that stress-related variabl
es were significantly correlated with severity scores in alcoholics with th
e allele, but not in those without it, This is the first demonstration of a
n interaction between a genetic polymorphism and stress-related measures on
the severity of psychiatric disorders. Am. J. Med, Genet. (Neuropsychiatr.
Genet,) 96: 302-306, 2000, (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.