Sexual Trauma, the Dopamine D4 Receptor, and Suicidal Ideation Among Hospitalized Adolescents: A Preliminary Investigation.
Though an association exists between sexual trauma and adolescent suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), not all adolescents with a sexual assault history develop STBs. The present study examined whether carrier status of the DRD4 VNTR polymorphism (DRD4 L vs. DRD4S) moderated the relationship between sexual trauma and STBs in a sample of psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents. A total of 76 psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents provided saliva samples for genotyping procedures and completed assessment measures. Using hierarchical regression analyses, results indicated that DRD4 L carriers with a sexual trauma history reported significantly more severe suicidal ideation than DRD4S homozygotes. There was no interaction evident for the prediction of suicide attempts. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide preliminary support for synergistic effects of sexual trauma, DRD4, and severity of SI in adolescents. Further studies of the relationship between sexual trauma, DRD4, and STBs utilizing larger samples are needed.
James
J
Doorley
Caitlin
C
Williams
Travis
T
Mallard
Christianne
C
Esposito-Smythers
John
J
McGeary
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
C493599:DRD4 protein, human; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4
DRD4; abuse; assault; sexual trauma; suicidal ideation