DRD4 genotype moderates the impact of parental problems on unresolved loss or trauma

Marian J Bakermans-Kranenburg; Marinus H van IJzendoorn; Kristin Caspers; Robert Philibert

doi:10.1080/14616734.2011.562415

Back

DRD4 genotype moderates the impact of parental problems on unresolved loss or trauma

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

DRD4 genotype moderates the impact of parental problems on unresolved loss or trauma

Marian J Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marinus H van IJzendoorn, Kristin Caspers and Robert Philibert

Attachment & human development, Vol.13(3), pp.253-269

05/01/2011

DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2011.562415

PMCID: PMC3098559

PMID: 21506030

Files and links (1)

url

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3098559View

Open Access

Abstract

In the current study we tested whether the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) genotype moderates the association of experienced parental problems during childhood (e.g., parental depression, marital discord) with unresolved loss or trauma during the Adult Attachment Interview. To test the specificity of this moderation the role of the serotonin transporter gene promoter (5-HTTLPR) was also examined. Subjects were 124 adopted adults (mean age 39 years). Participants with the DRD4-7 repeat (7R) allele who experienced parental problems had the highest scores for unresolved loss or trauma whereas participants with DRD4-7R who did not experience parental problems showed the lowest ratings. Among participants without DRD4-7R, the parental problems during childhood did not make a difference. 5-HTTLPR did not moderate the relation between parental problems and unresolved loss or trauma. Our study shows heightened susceptibility to environmental influences for carriers of the DRD4-7R allele, and suggests that the interplay between specific dopamine-related genes and family contexts leads to more or less successful coping with adverse childhood experiences.

AAI

differential susceptibility

unresolved loss or trauma

5-HTTLPR

GxE

DRD4

Details

Title: Subtitle: DRD4 genotype moderates the impact of parental problems on unresolved loss or trauma
Creators: Marian J Bakermans-Kranenburg - Centre for Child and Family Studies , Leiden University
Marinus H van IJzendoorn - Centre for Child and Family Studies , Leiden University
Kristin Caspers - Department of Psychiatry , University of Iowa
Robert Philibert - Department of Psychiatry , University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Attachment & human development, Vol.13(3), pp.253-269
DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2011.562415
PMID: 21506030
PMCID: PMC3098559
NLM abbreviation: Attach Hum Dev
ISSN: 1461-6734
eISSN: 1469-2988
Publisher: Routledge
Language: English
Date published: 05/01/2011
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Psychiatry; Epidemiology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984003979402771

Metrics

23 Record Views

30 Times Cited - Web of Science