title: Gene-Environment Correlation Between the Dopamine Transporter Gene (DAT1) Polymorphism and Childhood Experiences of Abuse.
abstract: In the present study, we investigated the possible gene-environment correlation between the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) polymorphism and childhood experiences of abuse and neglect. Genetic information was obtained from 1,442 male and 2,178 female twins and their siblings drawn from a Finnish population-based sample. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was used to measure the childhood experiences of abuse and neglect. In men, the DAT1 polymorphism was associated with having experienced sexual abuse in childhood, such that men with the 9R9R genotype reported less sexual abuse experiences than men with the 9R10R or the 10R10R genotypes. In women, there was an association between the DAT1 polymorphism and childhood experiences of emotional abuse, such that women with the 9R9R genotype reported less emotional abuse experiences than women with the 9R10R or 10R10R genotypes. No other associations between the DAT1 polymorphism and childhood experiences of abuse and neglect were found. In sum, the results suggested that some genetic components might predispose children to experience childhood abuse and neglect. Possible reasons for this association were discussed.
authors.affiliation: 1 Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Wail
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rehan
authors.affiliation: 1 Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antfolk
authors.affiliation: 1 Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.|2 University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: 1 Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Merike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aminoff
authors.affiliation: 1 Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: N Kenneth
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Sandnabba
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Westberg
authors.affiliation: 1 Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santtila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C493214:SLC6A3 protein, human
keywords: DAT1; childhood experiences; dopamine transporter gene; gene–environment correlation; rGE