TY - JOUR
T1 - The Dopamine D2 Receptor Locus as a Modifying Gene in Neuropsychiatric Disorders
AU - Comings, David E.
AU - Comings, Brenda G.
AU - Muhleman, Donn
AU - Dietz, George
AU - Shahbahrami, Bejan
AU - Tast, David
AU - Knell, Ellen
AU - Kocsis, Pat
AU - Baumgarten, Rubin
AU - Kovacs, Bruce W.
AU - Levy, Deborah L.
AU - Smith, Melissa
AU - Borison, Richard L.
AU - Evans, D. Durrell
AU - Klein, Daniel N.
AU - MacMurray, James
AU - Tosk, Jeffrey M.
AU - Sverd, Jeffrey
AU - Gysin, Reinhard
AU - Flanagan, Steven D.
PY - 1991/10/2
Y1 - 1991/10/2
N2 - Objective.—The A1 allele of the Taq I polymorphism of the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene has been earlier reported to occur in 69% of alcoholics, compared with 20% of controls. Other research has reported no significant difference in the prevalence of the A1 allele in alcoholics vs controls and no evidence that the DRD2 gene was linked to alcoholism. We hypothesized that these seemingly conflicting results might be because increases in the prevalence of the A1 allele may not be specific to alcoholism. Thus, we examined other disorders frequently associated with alcoholism or those believed to involve defects in dopaminergic neurotransmission. Design.—Case comparison study. To minimize the effect of racial differences in gene frequencies, the study was restricted to non-Hispanic whites. Setting.—Ambulatory and hospitalized patients. Results.—Among all known controls (n = 314), 77 (24.5%) carried the A1 allele. Of the 69 controls known not to be alcoholics, 10 (14.5%) carried the A1 allele. The prevalence of the A1 allele was significantly increased in patients with Tourette’s syndrome (44.9%, n = 147), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (46.2%, n = 104), autism (54.5%, n = 33), alcoholism (42.3%, n = 104), and posttraumatic stress disorder (45.7%, n = 35). After correction for multiple comparisons (requiring P<.0009 for significance), all remained significant except posttraumatic stress disorder. The prevalence of the A1 allele was not significantly increased in patients with depression, panic attacks, Parkinson’s disease, or obesity. The prevalence of the A1 allele in drug addiction and schizophrenia was only significant when compared with that of controls who were not alcoholics, and no correction was made for multiple comparisons. Conclusion.—These results suggest the A1 allele of the DRD2 gene is associated with a number of behavior disorders in which it may act as a modifying gene rather than as the primary etiological agent.
AB - Objective.—The A1 allele of the Taq I polymorphism of the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene has been earlier reported to occur in 69% of alcoholics, compared with 20% of controls. Other research has reported no significant difference in the prevalence of the A1 allele in alcoholics vs controls and no evidence that the DRD2 gene was linked to alcoholism. We hypothesized that these seemingly conflicting results might be because increases in the prevalence of the A1 allele may not be specific to alcoholism. Thus, we examined other disorders frequently associated with alcoholism or those believed to involve defects in dopaminergic neurotransmission. Design.—Case comparison study. To minimize the effect of racial differences in gene frequencies, the study was restricted to non-Hispanic whites. Setting.—Ambulatory and hospitalized patients. Results.—Among all known controls (n = 314), 77 (24.5%) carried the A1 allele. Of the 69 controls known not to be alcoholics, 10 (14.5%) carried the A1 allele. The prevalence of the A1 allele was significantly increased in patients with Tourette’s syndrome (44.9%, n = 147), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (46.2%, n = 104), autism (54.5%, n = 33), alcoholism (42.3%, n = 104), and posttraumatic stress disorder (45.7%, n = 35). After correction for multiple comparisons (requiring P<.0009 for significance), all remained significant except posttraumatic stress disorder. The prevalence of the A1 allele was not significantly increased in patients with depression, panic attacks, Parkinson’s disease, or obesity. The prevalence of the A1 allele in drug addiction and schizophrenia was only significant when compared with that of controls who were not alcoholics, and no correction was made for multiple comparisons. Conclusion.—These results suggest the A1 allele of the DRD2 gene is associated with a number of behavior disorders in which it may act as a modifying gene rather than as the primary etiological agent.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0025925207
U2 - 10.1001/jama.1991.03470130073032
DO - 10.1001/jama.1991.03470130073032
M3 - Article
C2 - 1832466
AN - SCOPUS:0025925207
SN - 0098-7484
VL - 266
SP - 1793
EP - 1800
JO - JAMA
JF - JAMA
IS - 13
ER -