Dopamine-system genes, childhood abuse, and clinical manifestations in women with Bulimia-Spectrum Disorders.
OBJECTIVE
We explored interaction effects involving polymorphisms of targeted dopamine system genes and selected forms of childhood abuse (sexual, physical and emotional) acting upon severity of binge-eating and psychopathological symptoms in women with Bulimia-Spectrum Disorders (BSDs).


METHODS
Women diagnosed with a BSD (n = 216) were assessed for childhood traumata, eating-disorder (ED) symptoms, and selected psychopathological features (sensation seeking, impulsivity, compulsivity and affective instability), and then provided blood samples for genotyping of main polymorphisms of dopamine-2 receptor (DRD2), dopamine transporter (DAT1) and catechol o-methyltransferase (COMT) genes.


RESULTS
Sensation Seeking was elevated in carriers of the low-function allele of the DRD2 Taq1A polymorphism who also reported childhood sexual abuse, relative to that in individuals showing other combinations of alleles and abuse exposures. In addition, carriers of a low-function allele of COMT scored higher on compulsivity, lower on impulsivity, and marginally lower on frequency of binge-eating than did individuals in whom the allele was absent.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that genes acting within the dopamine system may contribute, either directly or indirectly (i.e., in interaction with traumatic childhood experiences), to variations in the presentation of comorbid traits and, possibly, of bulimic symptoms.
Eating Disorders Program, Douglas University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. patricia.groleau@mail.mcgill.ca
Patricia
P
Groleau
Howard
H
Steiger
Ridha
R
Joober
Kenneth R
KR
Bruce
Mimi
M
Israel
Ghislaine
G
Badawi
Nadia
N
Zeramdini
Lindsay
L
Sycz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000235:genetics; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; C493214:SLC6A3 protein, human; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase