The Influence of Gene–Environment Interactions on the Development of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence

• Published in: Current psychiatry reports Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 150 - 158
• Main Author: Enoch, Mary-Anne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Current Science Inc 01.04.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Alcoholism; Gene-Environment Interaction; Genetic Disorders (Jf Cubells and Eb Binder; Genetic Variation; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology; Life Change Events; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology; Psychiatry; Risk Factors; Section Editors; Stress, Psychological - complications; Substance-Related Disorders - genetics; Substance-Related Disorders - physiopathology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; MAOA-LPR; Gene–environment interactions; Alcohol dependence; HPA axis; Cortisol; COMT; CRHR1; SLC6A4; CRHBP; Adolescent problem drinking; Sexual abuse; Cocaine dependence; GABRA2; Childhood maltreatment; Crossover of risk; KCNJ6; Dopamine; 5-HTTLPR; Alcoholism; Differential susceptibility hypothesis; Stress circuitry; Corpus callosum; PER1; Reward pathway; Physical abuse; Drug dependence; Stressful life events; FKBP5
• ISSN: 1523-3812; 1535-1645
• DOI: 10.1007/s11920-011-0252-9

Alcoholism and drug dependence are common psychiatric disorders with a heritability of about 50%; therefore genetic and environmental influences are equally important. Early-life stress is a predictor of adolescent problem drinking/drug use and alcohol/drug dependence in adulthood, but moderating factors governing the availability of alcohol/drug are important. The risk–resilience balance for addiction may be due in part to the interaction between genetic variation and environment stressors (G × E); this has been confirmed by twin studies of inferred genetic risk. Measured genotype studies to detect G × E effects have used a range of alcohol consumption and diagnostic phenotypes and stressors ranging from early-life to adulthood past year life events. In this article, the current state of the field is critically reviewed and suggestions are put forth for future research.