title: Variation in the μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) moderates the influence of early maternal care on fearful attachment.
abstract: There is evidence that both early experience and genetic variation play a role in influencing sensitivity to social rejection. In this study, we aimed at ascertaining if the A118G polymorphism of the μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) moderates the impact of early maternal care on fearful attachment, a personality trait strongly related to rejection sensitivity. In 112 psychiatric patients, early maternal care and fearful attachment were measured using the Parental Bonding Inventory and the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), respectively. The pattern emerging from the RQ data was a crossover interaction between genotype and maternal caregiving. Participants expressing the minor 118 G allele had similar and relatively high scores on fearful attachment regardless of the quality of maternal care. By contrast, early experience made a major difference for participants carrying the A/A genotype. Those who recalled higher levels of maternal care reported the lowest levels of fearful attachment whereas those who recalled lower levels of maternal care scored highest on fearful attachment. Our data fit well with the differential susceptibility model which stipulates that plasticity genes would make some individuals more responsive than others to the negative consequences of adversity and to the benefits of environmental support and enrichment.
authors: Department of Neurosciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. alfonso.troisi@uniroma2.it
authors: Alfonso
authors: A
authors: Troisi
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Frazzetto
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Carola
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Di Lorenzo
authors: Mariangela
authors: M
authors: Coviello
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Siracusano
authors: Cornelius
authors: C
authors: Gross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D010553:Personality Development; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000235:genetics*; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C485764:OPRM1 protein, human; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu