Dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) is associated with alcoholism with conduct disorder

This study examined whether there is evidence for an association between al coholism with conduct disorder and alleles of the TaqI A and TaqI B polymor phisms, both individually and as haplotypes, at the dopamine D2 receptor ge ne (DRD2). We studied 182 Han Chinese subjects, including 34 alcoholics wit h conduct disorder, 63 alcoholics without conduct disorder, and 85 nonalcoh olics. Alcohol dependence and conduct disorder were defined according to DS M-III-R criteria. Significant associations were observed between TaqI A and TaqI B at the DRD2 locus, tested individually and as haplotypes, and alcoh olism with conduct disorder. Our results suggested that DRD2 might be assoc iated with conduct disorder or a predisposition to both conduct disorder an d alcoholism. However, this needs to be further investigated by examining t he differences among conduct disorder with alcoholism, conduct disorder onl y, and controls for the TaqI A and B system at DRD2.