title: No allelic association between harm avoidance and the debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase gene.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several reports suggest that variance in personality traits is inherited, but little is known about the genes responsible. It has been suggested that there is a relationship between personality characteristics and the gene responsible for the activity of the enzyme debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase (CYP2D6).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the proportion of poor metabolizers in a group of personality disordered patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained from 23 patients with a high or very high score on the dimension 'harm avoidance' of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The samples were genotyped for the null alleles CYP2D6*3 and*4 by performing an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequencies of genotypes in the sample were very similar to the frequencies found in a general white population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The investigation produced no support for the idea that the CYP2D6 gene is related to personality by means of variations in the temperament dimension of harm avoidance.
authors.affiliation: 1Psychiatric Center Symfora Groep, Amersfoort, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Adriaan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Veefkind
authors.affiliation: 1Psychiatric Center Symfora Groep, Amersfoort, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Theo J M
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ingenhoven
authors.affiliation: 1Psychiatric Center Symfora Groep, Amersfoort, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Izaäk W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: De Groot