The DRD2 gene 957C>T polymorphism is associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in war veterans

✍ Scribed by Joanne Voisey; Christopher D Swagell; Ian P Hughes; C Phillip Morris; Angela van Daal; Earnest P Noble; Burnett Kann; Karen A Heslop; Ross McD Young; Bruce R Lawford

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 96 KB
• Volume: 26
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1091-4269
• DOI: 10.1002/da.20517

✦ Synopsis

Background: Variations in genes related to the dopaminergic pathway have been implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, substance misuse, Alzheimer's disease and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (957C4T) and a deletion polymorphism (-141delC) in the DRD2 gene and a SNP (Taq1A) in a gene directly downstream of DRD2 have all been implicated in dopamine functioning in the brain. Methods: To test the importance of these three polymorphisms in PTSD susceptibility, a genetic screen was performed in 127 war veterans diagnosed with PTSD and 228 control individuals without a history of PTSD. Results: No significant association was found between PTSD and the Taq1A or -141delC polymorphisms. However, a significant association was observed with PTSD and the 957C4T polymorphism. PTSD individuals were more likely to carry the C allele compared to the controls (P 5 0.021). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the 957C4T polymorphism in the DRD2 gene is one of the genetic factors for susceptibility to PTSD.