Association analysis of dopamine D2-like receptor genes and methamphetamine abuse

Psychiatr Genet. 2004 Dec;14(4):223-6. doi: 10.1097/00041444-200412000-00011.

Abstract

Objectives: Substance use disorders are familial, and genetic factors explain a substantial degree of their familial aggregation. This study employs an association approach to examine the genetic underpinning of methamphetamine (MAMP) use and MAMP-induced psychosis.

Methods: A total of 416 MAMP abusers from a hospital and a detention center in Taipei were interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Study and the Family Interview for Genetic Study. Genetic polymorphisms of D2-like dopamine receptor genes, DRD2 TaqI A, DRD3 Ser-9-Gly, and DRD4 exon III variable number of tandem repeats, were compared between: (a) MAMP users as a whole and 435 normal controls, and (b) those 154 individuals with MAMP-induced psychosis and the 252 MAMP users with no psychosis.

Results: None of the three markers we studied were associated with predisposition to psychosis among the MAMP abusers. The MAMP abusers had a higher (P=0.011) prevalence of the seven-repeat allele of DRD4 than normal controls.

Conclusions: Chance fluctuations in the frequency of rare alleles and ascertainment differences in the case and control samples cannot be ruled out. Therefore, further studies of the seven-repeat allele in MAMP abusers and controls should be performed before an association can be established.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methamphetamine*
  • Psychotic Disorders / etiology
  • Psychotic Disorders / genetics
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / genetics*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / genetics*

Substances

  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Methamphetamine