title: The role of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in alcohol craving experience.
abstract: The way in which genetic risk mediates the development of craving in alcohol dependence is still relatively unknown. The authors sought to clarify the extent to which alcohol craving could be predicted by a relevant polymorphism in the promoter region of the gene encoding the 5-HT transporter (5-HTTLPR). A sample of 101 alcohol-dependent patients admitted for alcohol treatment was recruited for the study. At admission, blood samples were taken for DNA extraction and alcohol craving information was collected with a composite measure. The 5-HTT polymorphism was genotyped. Alcohol dependent patients who were homozygous for the long allele (LL) self-reported higher scores of craving when compared to patients that were homozygous for the short allele (SS). However, the results were not statistically significant. Also, no significant associations were observed between the 5-HTTLPR genotype and other drinking variables. No 5-HTTLPR genotype effects were observed on alcohol craving experience in a sample of alcohol-dependent outpatients.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Service, Santa Maria University Hospital of Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: samuelpombo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pombo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics, Medicine School of Lisbon University, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Service, Santa Maria University Hospital of Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Maria Neves
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Service, Santa Maria University Hospital of Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics, Medicine School of Lisbon University, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics, Medicine School of Lisbon University, Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bicho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D000483:Alleles; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: Alcohol craving; Alcohol dependence; Gene of the serotonin transporter