BACKGROUND: Nearly 50% of subjects with continuing symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood have been reported to show a comorbid substance use disorder. Both ADHD and alcohol dependence have a high genetic load and might even share overlapping sources of genetic liability. Recently, the functional relevant polymorphism within the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) and the 5-hydroxytryptamine-2c (5-HT2c) receptor Cys23Ser have been proposed as candidate genes for both entities. METHODS: We investigated phenotype and 5-HTT/5-HT2c genotype characteristics in 314 alcoholics of German descent. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in 5-HTT genotype or 5-HT2c allele distribution between alcoholics and matched controls. Sixty-seven alcoholics fulfilled DSM-IV criteria of ADHD with ongoing symptoms in adulthood and had a Wender Utah Rating Scale score greater than 90. Thirty had ADHD plus antisocial personality disorder. The subgroup of alcoholics with ADHD (ADHD+) showed a significantly higher daily and record ethanol intake per month, an earlier age at onset of alcohol dependence, and a higher frequency of suicidal ideation, court proceedings, and antisocial personality disorder. In our sample, more than 50% of type 2 alcoholics according to Cloninger consist of the ADHD+ and/or antisocial personality disorder-positive subjects. There were no differences in 5-HTT genotype or 5-HT2c allele distribution between the ADHD+ subgroups and alcoholics without comorbidity and matched controls, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidity of alcoholism and ADHD forms a distinct phenotype that shows an increased severity of the substance disorder. This phenotype contributes substantially to the so-called type 2 alcoholics according to Cloninger. In our sample, the functional relevant 5-HTT promoter and the 5-HT2c receptor Cys23Ser polymorphism do not contribute to the supposed common genetic predisposition of ADHD and alcohol dependence.
BACKGROUND: Nearly 50% of subjects with continuing symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood have been reported to show a comorbid substance use disorder. Both ADHD and alcohol dependence have a high genetic load and might even share overlapping sources of genetic liability. Recently, the functional relevant polymorphism within the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) and the 5-hydroxytryptamine-2c (5-HT2c) receptor Cys23Ser have been proposed as candidate genes for both entities. METHODS: We investigated phenotype and 5-HTT/5-HT2c genotype characteristics in 314 alcoholics of German descent. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in 5-HTT genotype or 5-HT2c allele distribution between alcoholics and matched controls. Sixty-seven alcoholics fulfilled DSM-IV criteria of ADHD with ongoing symptoms in adulthood and had a Wender Utah Rating Scale score greater than 90. Thirty had ADHD plus antisocial personality disorder. The subgroup of alcoholics with ADHD (ADHD+) showed a significantly higher daily and record ethanol intake per month, an earlier age at onset of alcohol dependence, and a higher frequency of suicidal ideation, court proceedings, and antisocial personality disorder. In our sample, more than 50% of type 2 alcoholics according to Cloninger consist of the ADHD+ and/or antisocial personality disorder-positive subjects. There were no differences in 5-HTT genotype or 5-HT2c allele distribution between the ADHD+ subgroups and alcoholics without comorbidity and matched controls, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidity of alcoholism and ADHD forms a distinct phenotype that shows an increased severity of the substance disorder. This phenotype contributes substantially to the so-called type 2 alcoholics according to Cloninger. In our sample, the functional relevant 5-HTT promoter and the 5-HT2c receptor Cys23Ser polymorphism do not contribute to the supposed common genetic predisposition of ADHD and alcohol dependence.
Authors: Geurt van de Glind; Katelijne Van Emmerik-van Oortmerssen; Pieter Jan Carpentier; Frances R Levin; Maarten W J Koeter; Csaba Barta; Sharlene Kaye; Arvid Skutle; Johan Franck; Maija Konstenius; Eli-Torild Bu; Franz Moggi; Geert Dom; Zolt Demetrovics; Mélina Fatséas; Arild Schillinger; Máté Kapitány-Fövény; Sofie Verspreet; Andrea Seitz; Brian Johnson; Stephen V Faraone; J Antoni Ramos-Quiroga; Steve Allsop; Susan Carruthers; Robert A Schoevers; Wim van den Brink Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2013-09-11 Impact factor: 4.035
Authors: U W Preuss; E Gouzoulis-Mayfrank; U Havemann-Reinecke; I Schäfer; M Beutel; E Hoch; K F Mann Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2017-04-24 Impact factor: 5.270
Authors: U W Preuss; E Gouzoulis-Mayfrank; U Havemann-Reinecke; I Schäfer; M Beutel; K F Mann; E Hoch Journal: Nervenarzt Date: 2016-01 Impact factor: 1.214
Authors: R Kathryn McHugh; Stefan G Hofmann; Anu Asnaani; Alice T Sawyer; Michael W Otto Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2010-01-08 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: E H Grevet; F Z C Marques; C A I Salgado; A G Fischer; K L Kalil; M M Victor; C R Garcia; N O Sousa; P Belmonte-de-Abreu; C H D Bau Journal: J Neural Transm (Vienna) Date: 2007-08-10 Impact factor: 3.575
Authors: Albert J Arias; Joel Gelernter; Grace Chan; Roger D Weiss; Kathleen T Brady; Lindsay Farrer; Henry R Kranzler Journal: Addict Behav Date: 2008-05-13 Impact factor: 3.913