A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Gene-Environment Correlation Between the Dopamine Transporter Gene (DAT1) Polymorphism and Childhood Experiences of Abuse.




AuthorsWail Rehan, Jan Antfolk, Ada Johansson, Merike Aminoff, N. Kenneth Sandnabba, Lars Westberg, Pekka Santtila

PublisherSage Publications, Inc.

Publication year2016

JournalJournal of Interpersonal Violence

Volume33

Issue13

First page 1

Last page14

Number of pages14

ISSN0886-2605

eISSN1552-6518

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515622299


Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the possible gene-environment correlation between the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) polymorphism and childhood experiences of abuse and neglect. Genetic information was obtained from 1,442 male and 2,178 female twins and their siblings drawn from a Finnish population-based sample. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was used to measure the childhood experiences of abuse and neglect. In men, the DAT1 polymorphism was associated with having experienced sexual abuse in childhood, such that men with the 9R9R genotype reported less sexual abuse experiences than men with the 9R10R or the 10R10R genotypes. In women, there was an association between the DAT1 polymorphism and childhood experiences of emotional abuse, such that women with the 9R9R genotype reported less emotional abuse experiences than women with the 9R10R or 10R10R genotypes. No other associations between the DAT1 polymorphism and childhood experiences of abuse and neglect were found. In sum, the results suggested that some genetic components might predispose children to experience childhood abuse and neglect. Possible reasons for this association were discussed.



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