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[ADHD and alcohol dependence: a common genetic predisposition?]
Norbert Wodarz1, Kirsten Lange, Rainer Laufkötter
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität am Bezirksklinikum Regensburg. norbert.wodarz@medbo.de
Introduction:
Nearly 50 % of subjects with continuing symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood show a comorbid substance use disorder. Both, ADHD and alcohol dependence have a high genetic load and might even share overlapping sources of genetic liability.
Method:
We investigated phenotype and 5-HTT/5-HT2c allelic characteristics in 314 alcoholics of German descent.
Result:
21 % of the alcoholics fulfilled DSM-IV-criteria of ADHD with ongoing symptoms in adulthood. There was no significant difference in 5-HTT- or 5-HT2c-allele distribution between alcoholics and matched controls or between alcoholics with or without ADHD.
Conclusion:
In our sample the functional relevant 5-HTT-promoter and the 5-HT2c-receptor Cys23Ser polymorphism do not contribute to the supposed common genetic predisposition of ADHD and alcohol dependence.
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