Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
10317242 Research in Developmental Disabilities 2014 8 Pages PDF
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of dopaminergic gene variants with emotion dysregulation (EMD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Three dopamine transporter gene (SLC6A3/DAT1) polymorphisms (intron8 5/6 VNTR, 3′-UTR 9/10 VNTR, rs27072 in the 3′-UTR) and one dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) variant (rs2283265) were selected for genotyping based on à priori evidence of regulatory activity or, in the case of DAT1 9/10 VNTR, commonly reported associations with ADHD. A sample of 110 children with ASD was assessed with a rigorously validated DSM-IV-referenced rating scale. Global EMD severity (parents' ratings) was associated with DAT1 intron8 (ηp2 = .063) and rs2283265 (ηp2 = .044). Findings for DAT1 intron8 were also significant for two EMD subscales, generalized anxiety (ηp2 = .065) and depression (ηp2 = .059), and for DRD2 rs2283265, depression (ηp2 = .053). DRD2 rs2283265 was associated with teachers' global ratings of ADHD (ηp2 = .052). DAT1 intron8 was associated with parent-rated hyperactivity (ηp2 = .045) and both DAT1 9/10 VNTR (ηp2 = .105) and DRD2 rs2283265 (ηp2 = .069) were associated with teacher-rated inattention. These findings suggest that dopaminergic gene polymorphisms may modulate EMD and ADHD symptoms in children with ASD but require replication with larger independent samples.
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