Allele polymorphism of the dopamine transporter gene in patients with endogenous psychoses: Association with pathological syndromes

A study was made of the association of the allele polymorphism of the 3'VNT R locus of the dopamine transporter (DAT) gene with schizophrenia, schizo-a ffective psychosis, and affective disorders. Three alleles (440, 480, and 5 20 nt) were found and the allele and genotype frequencies estimated in all groups. The allele and genotype frequencies in patients with depression sig nificantly differed from those in controls and in patients with bipolar aff ective psychosis and schizophrenia. The results were correlated with the av eraged MMPI profiles of controls and affective patients. In the latter grou p, 480/480 homozygotes significantly differed from patients with the other genotypes in the mean score on Hypochondria and Hysteria scales. The possib le association of the DAT-3'VNTR polymorphism and individual syndromes, whi ch are related to different mechanisms of psychological defense, is discuss ed.