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The short DRD4 repeats confer risk to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a family-based design and impair performance on a continuous performance test (TOVA)

Molecular Psychiatry volume 7, pages 790–794 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

One particular candidate gene, the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4), has been the focus of intense study regarding ADHD since the original investigation by La Hoste et al,1 an observation confirmed by a recent metaanalysis.2 However, two previous studies from Israel failed to observe this association.3,4We have now recruited an additional sample and, overall, in the combined sample of 178 triads we observe using the transmission disequilibrium test,5,6 preferential transmission of the short allele. Additionally, we now report the effect of the DRD4 repeat region on the Test Of Variables of Attention (TOVA), a widely used computerized continuous performance test.7 Probands with the short exon III repeat performed significantly worse on the TOVA measured both by errors of commission and response time variable. Intriguingly, a ‘dose effect’ was observed. Increasing repeat size is accompanied by a reduced number of errors of commission and a significant difference is observed between the 2 vs 7 repeats. On the whole, our results lend credence to the notion that the relationship between the DRD4 receptor and ADHD is complex and may be reflecting linkage disequilibrium between the 7 or long DRD4 exon III repeats and a ‘true’ risk allele in this gene or a neighboring locus.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant from the Israeli Ministry of Health.

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Author notes

  1. Beersheva Mental Health Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geha Mental Health Center, Petak Tikvah, Israel

    I Manor & S Tyano

  2. Research Laboratory, S Herzog Memorial Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel

    J Eisenberg, R Bachner-Melman & R P Ebstein

  3. Child Psychiatry Clinic, S Herzog Memorial Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel

    M Kotler

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  1. I Manor
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  2. S Tyano
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  3. J Eisenberg
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  4. R Bachner-Melman
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  5. M Kotler
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  6. R P Ebstein
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Correspondence to R P Ebstein.

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Manor, I., Tyano, S., Eisenberg, J. et al. The short DRD4 repeats confer risk to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a family-based design and impair performance on a continuous performance test (TOVA). Mol Psychiatry 7, 790–794 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001078

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