The Short Allele of the Serotonin Transporter Promoter Polymorphism Influences Relapse in Alcohol Dependence

• Published in: Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford) Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 398 - 400
• Main Authors: Pinto, Emmanuel, Reggers, Jean, Gorwood, Philip, Boni, Claudette, Scantamburlo, Gabrielle, Pitchot, William, Ansseau, Marc
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.07.2008; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Alcoholism; Alcoholism - diagnosis; Alcoholism - epidemiology; Alcoholism - genetics; Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning; Alleles; Biological and medical sciences; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Follow-Up Studies; Genotype; Human health sciences; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics; Psychiatrie; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Sciences de la santé humaine; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics; Temperance; Toxicology; Promoter; Allele; Relapse; Genetic variability; Serotonin transporter; Alcoholism; Genotype; Genetics; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0735-0414; 1464-3502; 1464-3502
• DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agn015

Aims: The short (S) allele of the serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) contributes to the risk of alcohol dependence and co-occurring clinical features. We studied the putative link between this allele and relapse. Methods: 48 alcohol-dependent male patients were recruited and genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR. Relapse to alcohol drinking was monitored during 3 months after standardized withdrawal. Results: The S allele was significantly associated with relapse (p = 0.008) while no other factor that was measured played a significant role. Conclusions: The S allele of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism may influence the risk of relapse in abstinent alcohol-dependent patients, possibly through intermediate phenotypes.