COMT and DRD3 polymorphisms, environmental exposures, and personality traits related to common mental disorders

Abstract

In a community sample of 2,327 Caucasians, we tested the hypotheses that polymorphisms in the COMT and DRD3 genes are associated with personality traits conferring vulnerability to anxiety, depression, or alcohol misuse, or with current symptoms of these; and that the association is stronger in persons who also have been exposed to stressor experiences. To conserve resources and to allow replication, the genetic analysis was undertaken in two stages. For the COMT polymorphism, no statistically significant associations were found in the first sample of 862 persons. The remainder of the sample was therefore not analyzed for that gene. For the DRD3 polymorphism, those in the first sample with at least one of the Ser9 alleles had significantly higher scores in neuroticism (p=0.006) and behavioral inhibition (p=0.003). There was a trend, failing to meet the 1% significance criterion, for those with this genotype also to have higher depression and anxiety. The groups did not differ in alcohol use. In persons with the Ser9 allele who were also exposed to stressors, there was a higher level of depression at the 5% level; and the depression level was higher in homozygotes. But when the remainder of the sample (1,465) was analyzed, none of the associations reached statistical significance. We conclude that neither the COMT nor DRD3 polymorphisms are associated with anxiety, depression, or alcohol abuse. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.