ISSN:
1435-1463
Keywords:
Keywords: MAOA, genetics, alcoholism.
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary. Heritable factors account for approximately 40–60% of the total variance of liability to alcohol dependence. The present study tested whether a novel functional polymorphism in the promotor region of the X-chromosomal monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) was related to antisocial and anxious-depressive traits in alcoholics. Due to the X-chromosomal localization of the MAOA gene, psychobiological traits were compared separately for both genders of 298 male and 66 female alcoholics. In males, 30 of 59 alcoholics with antisocial personality disorder carried the low-activity 3-repeat allele in contrast to only 7 of 31 anxious-depressive alcoholics (51% vs. 23%; p = 0.02). Likewise, female anxious-depressive alcoholics showed a trend towards a low frequency of genotypes with the 3 repeat allele compared to female alcoholics without these symptoms (29% vs. 53%; p = 0.09). Taken together, these findings suggest that the 3-repeat allele of the MAOA polymorphism contributes modestly to the dimension of over- and underreactive behaviors as possible antecedents of alcoholism.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s007020070069
Permalink
