title: Association between Genetic Variation in the Oxytocin Receptor Gene and Emotional Withdrawal, but not between Oxytocin Pathway Genes and Diagnosis in Psychotic Disorders.
abstract: Social dysfunction is common in patients with psychotic disorders. Oxytocin is a neuropeptide with a central role in social behavior. This study aims to explore the relationship between oxytocin pathway genes and symptoms related to social dysfunction in patients with psychotic disorders. We performed association analyses between four oxytocin pathway genes (OXT, OXTR, AVP, and CD38) and four areas of social behavior-related psychopathology as measured by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. For this purpose, we used both a polygenic risk score (PGRS) and single OXTR candidate single nucleotide polymorphism previously reported in the literature (rs53576, rs237902, and rs2254298). A total of 734 subjects with DSM-IV psychotic spectrum disorders and 420 healthy controls were included. Oxytocin pathway PGRSs were calculated based on the independent Psychiatric Genomics Consortium study sample. There was a significant association between symptom of Emotional Withdrawal and the previously reported OXTR risk allele A in rs53576. No significant associations between oxytocin pathway gene variants and a diagnosis of psychotic disorder were found. Our findings indicate that while oxytocin pathway genes do not appear to contribute to the susceptibility to psychotic disorders, variations in the OXTR gene might play a role in the development of impaired social behavior.
authors: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway ; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
authors: Marit
authors: M
authors: Haram
authors: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway ; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Tesli
authors: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway ; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Bettella
authors: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway ; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway ; Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål , Oslo , Norway.
authors: Srdjan
authors: S
authors: Djurovic
authors: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway ; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
authors: Ole Andreas
authors: OA
authors: Andreassen
authors: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway ; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
authors: Ingrid
authors: I
authors: Melle
keywords: oxytocin; polygenic risk score; psychotic disorders; schizophrenia; single nucleotide polymorphisms; vasopressin