Antisociality, substance dependence, and the DRD5 gene: A preliminary study

A pilot population-based study of a microsatellite polymorphism at the DRD5 locus in adult European-Americans showed its association with childhood sy mptom counts for oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in males and females a nd adult antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in females. No association with childhood conduct disorder symptom count was observed. ODD mediated th e genotype-ASPD relationship in females. Neither ODD nor ASPD significantly mediated the relationship between the genotype and the liability to substa nce dependence (SD). The data suggest involvement of the DRD5 locus in the variation and sexual dimorphism of SD liability and antisociality and in th e developmental continuity of antisociality. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsych iatr. Genet.) 96:654-658, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.