Association Study of Dopamine Transporter(DATI) G2319A Genetic Polymorphism in Alcohol Dependence

OBJECTIVE: Dopamine transporter is member of family of Na/Cl dependent neurotransmitter transporter, 12 transmembrane domain that has high substrate specificity, affinity. It is related with dopamine reuptake in presynaptic vesicle. DAT has a VNTR in its 3'-untranslated region(UTR), 3'-UTR VNTR polymorphism is related with modification of dopamine transmission. The association between with VNTR polymorphism and neuropsychiatric disorders such as alcohol dependence, and low activity ALDH has been studied but their relationship is unclear. We study about association of 3'-UTR VNTR of DAT gene and G2319A and alcohol dependence. METHOD: Group of Korea subjects were studied with alcohol dependence(n=49 male) compared to mentally healthy controls(n=53 male). The peripheral blood sample was acquired. and Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) amplification, Mspl procedure was done. RESULT: There was a significant difference between alcohol dependence group and normal control(genotype frequency p<0.05 allele frequency p<0.05) Allele A frequency and genotype(GG,GA) frequency was a significant difference between alcohol dependence group and normal control(p<0.05) CONCLUSION: Our study showed that genetic polymorphism of DAT1 G2319A had relation with alcohol dependence.

Factors Related to the Treatment Outcome in Adult Substance Abusers / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the factors related to the treatment outcome for substance abuse inpatients. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 97 patients who were discharged from the substance abuse treatment unit in Seoul National Mental Hospital. We then had follow-up telephone interview with 53 family memebers and/or patients of 97 patients. RESULTS: 1) Among 97 discharged patients, 59 patients were dropped out, 38 patients graduated successfully from the treatment program. The dropout group had shorter treatment period, were more often admitted involuntarily, had greater incidence of violence history and violated ward rules more often(p<.05). The main reasons for dropout were violation of rules(45.3%), escape during outdoor activities(3.7%), and refusal of return to the hospital(15.2%). 2) At the follow-up interview, 32 patients were abstaining from substances whereas 21 patients resumed use. The abuser group and more previous psychiatric admissions, more comorbid psychiatric disorders, and higher percentage of history of suicide attempts than the abstaining group(p<.05). 3) After the discharge from the hospital, 45% of patients showed to discontinue substance. Treatment graduates were more in recovery from substance abuse. The abstaining group had a higher percentage of employment than the abuser group(p<.05). CONCLUSION: The treatment outcome was more likely to be related with co-existing psychiatric problems such as previous psychiatric admission, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and history of suicide attempts. Therefore it is suggested that careful evaluation and appropriate treatment for such factors are needed for better treatment outcome. And psychiatric interview to enhance the motivation of patients is needed for completion of treatment.

An Association Study of D9S158 Polymorphism(VNTR Marker Linked to the NMDA Receptor Gene) with korean Schizophrenics / 신경정신의학

An association study with Korean schizophrenic patients(N=75) and normal controls(N=87) was performed to find the relationship between D9S158 polymorphism and schizophrenia using polymerase chain reaction. Eight different alleles of a dinucleotide polymorphism on D9S158 locus were observed in both group. When we compared the frequencies of alleles between schizophrenics and normal controls, there was no significant difference between two groups. To increase homogeneity of schizophrenic group, we divided schizophrenic group by clinical phenotypes such as family history, negative and positive symptoms(PANSS), soft neurologic signs(NES-K) and DSM-lV diagnostic subtypes. Then we compared the frequencies of alleles among subgroups of clinical phenotypes, and there were no significant differences between subgroups(p>.05). Although our findings fail to provide an evidence of association between schizophrenia and D9S158 locus, further investigation of other loci that are linked to NMDA receptor gene may be needed in genetically homogeneous subgroups of schizophrenia.

An Association Study of COMT Gene Polymorphism with Korean Schizophrenics

An association study with Korean schizophrenic patients(N=84) and normal controls(N=87) was performed to find the relationship between catechol-o-methyltransferase(COMT) gene polymorphism and schizophrenia using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. When we compared the allele and genotype frequencies of Bg/I COMT gene polymorphism in schizophrenics and normal controls, there was no significant difference between two groups. Our results do not support an association between the Bg/I polymorphism of COMT gene and schizophrenia.

Association between Alcohol Dependence and the Al Allele of the Dopamine D2 Receptor Gene TaqI A RFLP in Korean Population / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The existence of an allelic association between alcohol dependence and the TaqI 1 AI allele at the D, dopamine receptor(DRD2) locus has been proposed but still remains controversial. The purpose of the present study was to examine the allelic association of alcohol dependence and the TaqI A polymorphism of DRD2 gene in ethnically homogenous Korean population. METHODS: The subjects were 59 male patients diagnosed as alcohol dependence(DSM-RT) and the controls were 74 nonalcoholic male volunteers screened for alcohol problems in their 2nd degree relatives. The severity of alcohol dependence was estimated by the number of items of diagnostic level 1 of the Major Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism by National Council on Alcoholism(NCA). Genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction(FCR) and the electrophoresis of the FCR products digested by TaqI RESULTS: The frequency of the A1 allele in alcoholic group(0.45) was higher than that in control group(0.34) but there was no significant difference between them(x2=2.98, p=0.08). The frequency of A1 allele in 47 more severe alcoholic patients who met five or more items of Major Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism by NCA was 0.48 and it was significantly higher compared with that in control group (x2=4.21, p=0.04). In less severe alcoholic patients, the frequency of A1 allele(0.33) was similar to that in control group(x2=0.04, p=0.85). The proportions of subjects with more severe alcoholism in the patients with A1A1, A1A2, and A2A2 were 92%, 77%, and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSION: An allelic association of more severe alcoholic subgroup and the TaqI Al allele of Da dopamine receptor gene was supported in Korean population. It is suggested that the TaqI A1 allele is related to or has a linkage disequilibrium with a genetic factor which may be one of the risk factors for susceptibility to more severe alcoholic subgroup in multifactorial-threshold etiologic model.

The cornell interview for children's perception of peer and friendship(CIPF): Development of the Korean version and validity test / 신경정신의학

No abstract available.