title: Dopamine Receptor Gene DRD4 7-Repeat Allele X Maternal Sensitivity Interaction on Child Externalizing Behavior Problems: Independent Replication of Effects at 18 Months.
abstract: The DRD4 VNTR has been associated with child behavior problems in interaction with maternal insensitivity in European and American cohorts of preschoolers, with the 7-repeat (7R) allele associated with greater problems. We sought to replicate and expand these findings by examining effects on reports of child behavior problems at 18 months. A 63 family sample with data for observed maternal sensitivity ratings, DRD4 VNTR genotype, and maternal report of child behavior problems at 18-months was used in this preliminary analysis. Maternal sensitivity was measured at 6-months of age using laboratory observational measures (free-play and a teaching task). Maternal report of toddler behavior was obtained at 18-months via the standard Child Behavior Checklist, and infant genotype on the DRD4 VNTR was obtained using PCR. Infants carrying the DRD4 7R allele showed greater effects of maternal insensitivity than non-carriers for behavioral problems at 18-months. We replicated previous findings of association of infant DRD4 x maternal sensitivity interactions with child Externalizing problems in the European-ancestry sample (N = 42) in a median split of maternal sensitivity (p = .00011, eta2 = .329) and in regression analyses controlling for maternal age, maternal depression, and child gender in European ancestry (B = -3.4, SE 1.33, p = .01) and the total sample (B = -2.2, SE 1.02, p = .02). Exploratory analyses also found evidence of DRD4 x maternal sensitivity interaction with the CBCL ADHD scale. These findings replicate in an independent cohort DRD4 x maternal insensitivity interaction effect on child externalizing behavior problems at 18 months, further supporting the role of the DRD4 genotype in differential sensitivity to parenting.
authors: Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.|VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
authors: Anthony P
authors: AP
authors: King
authors: Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.|Center for Human Growth & Development, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Muzik
authors: Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America.
authors: Lindsay
authors: L
authors: Hamilton
authors: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
authors: Alexander B
authors: AB
authors: Taylor
authors: Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.|Center for Human Growth & Development, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
authors: Katherine L
authors: KL
authors: Rosenblum
authors: Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.|VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
authors: Israel
authors: I
authors: Liberzon
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C493599:DRD4 protein, human; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4