4.4 Article

The Genetics of Alcoholism

Journal

CURRENT PSYCHIATRY REPORTS
Volume 11, Issue 5, Pages 364-369

Publisher

SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11920-009-0055-4

Keywords

-

Categories

Funding

  1. United Kingdom Department of Health National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Mental Health
  2. European Commission

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Heritability estimates for alcoholism range from 50% to 60%, pointing out the importance of genetic and environmental factors in its etiology. This review highlights recent advances in translational work investigating genetic influences on alcoholism. We focus on genetic research involving corticotropin-releasing factor, glutamatergic, and opioidergic systems. Variation in the CRF1 receptor gene has been shown to moderate stress-induced alcohol drinking (gene-environment interaction) in animals, and this finding was recently extended to humans. Also, the hyperglutamatergic state, first observed during withdrawal from chronic alcohol exposure in animal models, is associated with aversive and dysphoric states in alcoholics. Pharmacogenetic studies of naltrexone efficacy are in the clinical stages, and recent studies confirmed a differential response dependent on the mu-opioid receptor genotype. Such advances will be essential for the effective treatment of alcoholism in the future.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.4
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available