Journal
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
Volume 21, Issue 2, Pages 139-146Publisher
AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC
DOI: 10.1037//0278-6133.21.2.139
Keywords
alcohol; craving; gene; phenotype; endophenotype; DRD4
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Recent research has suggested that alterations in mesolimbic dopamine neurotransmission are central to the development and expression of craving for alcohol. Because the D-4 dopamine receptor gene, variable numbers of tandem repeats (DRD4 VNTR) polymorphism putatively expresses functional differences in dopamine receptors, the present study tested whether this polymorphism influences the effects of a priming dose of alcohol on craving. Participants consumed 3 alcoholic drinks or 3 control drinks and completed measures of craving after each drink. Participants who were homozygous or heterozygous for the 7 (or longer) repeat allele were classified as DRD4 L, whereas the other participants were classified as DRD4 S. Results suggested that DRD4 L participants demonstrated significantly higher craving after consumption of alcohol as compared with the control beverage.
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