The Association among the Genetic Polymorphism of Dopamine D4 Receptor, Temperament and Alcohol Drinking Behavior in Young Korean Adults.
- Author:
Yeong Woo NAM
1
;
Sang Ick LEE
;
Chul Jin SHIN
;
Jung Woo SON
;
Sie Kyeong KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea. silee@chungbuk.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
DRD4;
TCI;
Novelty seeking;
Alcohol drinking behavior
- MeSH:
Adult;
Alcohol Drinking;
Base Pairing;
Dopamine;
Drinking;
Exons;
Humans;
Minisatellite Repeats;
Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Polymorphism, Genetic;
Receptors, Dopamine D4;
Reward;
Temperament;
Weights and Measures;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry
2011;18(2):101-108
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to explore the association among DRD4 polymorphism, temperament and alcohol drinking behavior of Koreans in their early adulthood. METHOD: Participants were 172 healthy Korean adults (mean age 28.1 +/- 0.8). Their temperament was assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and their alcohol drinking behavior were evaluated with a self-reported questionnaire including the CAGE and the Korean version of Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-K). DRD4 exon III 48 base pair variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) was genotyped by PCR. RESULTS: No significant association was found between DRD4 polymorphism and TCI temperament dimension (novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence, and persistence) as well as alcohol drinking behavior scales. However, novelty seeking was significantly associated with alcohol drinking behavior. The higher level of novelty seeking was associated with the higher severity index of drinking (B = -0.225, p < 0.001) and problematic alcohol use on the CAGE and AUDIT-K [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.111, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.021-1.209, p = 0.015, OR = 1.087, 95% CI 1.009-1.170, p = 0.028]. CONCLUSION: In our study, while there is no significant association of DRD4 polymorphism with temperament and alcohol drinking behavior, novelty seeking affects problematic alcohol use. Results suggest that novelty seeking may play an important role in problematic alcohol use in young Korean adults.
