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Two dopamine genes related to reports of childhood retrospective inattention and conduct disorder symptoms

Molecular Psychiatry volume 6, pages 429–433 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The 7-repeat allele of the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) and the 10 repeat allele of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) have shown association and linkage with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in childhood. The parents of ADHD children (clinic group, n = 80 fathers and 107 mothers) and control children (control group, n = 42 fathers and 51 mothers) were the focus of this study. These parents reported retrospectively on their level of ADHD Inattention and Conduct Disorder symptoms in adolescence. In analyses of the relation of symptom levels to the DRD4 and DAT1 genotypes, fathers possessing the 7 repeat DRD4 allele had greater levels of both inattention and conduct disorder symptoms. Mothers with the 10/10 genotype had higher levels of inattention symptoms. Thus, genetic associations found in children may be replicable in their parents.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by a grant from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) consortium to Rowe and by a First Award, K01-HM01818 to Waldman. Add Health was designed by J Richard Udry and Peter Bearman and is funded by grant P01-HD31921 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Committee in Genetics and Division of Family Studies and Human Development, Campus Box 210033, University of Arizona, Tucson, 85721, AZ, USA

    D C Rowe

  2. AOSIS Corporation, 815 W University Drive, Suite 106, Tempe, 85281, AZ, USA

    C Stever

  3. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, 85721, AZ

    D Chase

  4. Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, 30322, GA, USA

    S Sherman

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Emory University, Atlanta, 30322, GA, USA

    A Abramowitz

  6. Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, 30322, GA, USA

    I D Waldman

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  1. D C Rowe
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  2. C Stever
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  3. D Chase
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  4. S Sherman
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  5. A Abramowitz
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  6. I D Waldman
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Correspondence to D C Rowe.

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Rowe, D., Stever, C., Chase, D. et al. Two dopamine genes related to reports of childhood retrospective inattention and conduct disorder symptoms. Mol Psychiatry 6, 429–433 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000874

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