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

Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2001 Feb;25(2):177-84.

Abstract

This study examined whether there is evidence for an association between alcoholism with conduct disorder and alleles of the TaqI A and TaqI B polymorphisms, both individually and as haplotypes, at the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2). We studied 182 Han Chinese subjects, including 34 alcoholics with conduct disorder, 63 alcoholics without conduct disorder, and 85 nonalcoholics. Alcohol dependence and conduct disorder were defined according to DSM-III-R criteria. Significant associations were observed between TaqI A and TaqI B at the DRD2 locus, tested individually and as haplotypes, and alcoholism with conduct disorder. Our results suggested that DRD2 might be associated with conduct disorder or a predisposition to both conduct disorder and alcoholism. However, this needs to be further investigated by examining the differences among conduct disorder with alcoholism, conduct disorder only, and controls for the TaqI A and B system at DRD2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / complications*
  • Alcoholism / genetics*
  • Alleles
  • Conduct Disorder / complications*
  • Conduct Disorder / genetics*
  • Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Linkage Disequilibrium
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / genetics*

Substances

  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific
  • TCGA-specific type II deoxyribonucleases