Association between polymorphism in gene related to the dopamine circuit and motivations for drinking in patients with alcohol use disorder

Abstract

The development of alcohol use disorder (AUD) is influenced by genetic, psychological, and social factors. However, the identification of the load of each of these factors and the association between them is still debatable. This study aimed to explore the load of the association between AUD and polymorphisms in genes of the dopaminergic system, as well as with drinking triggers. The study comprised 227 inpatients with AUD and 174 controls. The pattern and motivations for drinking were evaluated using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Inventory of Drinking Situations (IDS). Analyses of genetic variation in genes encoding dopaminergic were performed using next generation sequencing. We observed an significant association between a polymorphism in DDC (rs11575457) and AUD. Positive reinforcement factors as urges/temptations to drink and pleasant emotion, in isolation, were the significantly related elements to drinking. In addition, negative (physical discomfort) and positive reinforcement factors (testing personal control; pleasant time with others) significantly reinforced the interaction with DDC genetic variant for increased odds of an individual presenting AUD. These results indicated a complex relationship between the dopaminergic system and the drug-seeking behavior profiles.