A gene × gene interaction between DRD2 and DRD4 is associated with conduct disorder and antisocial behavior in males

doi:10.1186/1744-9081-3-30

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Volume 3

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Beaver KM
Wright JP
DeLisi M
Walsh A
Vaughn MG
Boisvert D
Vaske J

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Wright JP
DeLisi M
Walsh A
Vaughn MG
Boisvert D
Vaske J
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Research

A gene × gene interaction between DRD2 and DRD4 is associated with conduct disorder and antisocial behavior in males

Kevin M Beaver¹ , John Paul Wright² , Matt DeLisi³ , Anthony Walsh⁴ , Michael G Vaughn⁵ , Danielle Boisvert² and Jamie Vaske²

¹College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1127, USA

²Division of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0389, USA

³Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1070, USA

⁴Department of Criminal Justice Administration, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA

⁵School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA

author email corresponding author email

Behavioral and Brain Functions 2007, 3:30doi:10.1186/1744-9081-3-30


Published:	22 June 2007

Abstract

Background

Antisocial behaviors are complex polygenic phenotypes that are due to a multifactorial arrangement of genetic polymorphisms. Little empirical research, however, has been undertaken that examines gene × gene interactions in the etiology of conduct disorder and antisocial behavior. This study examined whether adolescent conduct disorder and adult antisocial behavior were related to the dopamine D2 receptor polymorphism (DRD2) and the dopamine D4 receptor polymorphism (DRD4).

Methods

A sample of 872 male participants from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) completed self-report questionnaires that tapped adolescent conduct disorder and adult antisocial behavior. DNA was genotyped for DRD2 and DRD4.

Results

Multivariate regression analysis revealed that neither DRD2 nor DRD4 had significant independent effects on conduct disorder or antisocial behavior. However, DRD2 interacted with DRD4 to predict variation in adolescent conduct disorder and in adult antisocial behavior.

Conclusion

The results suggest that a gene × gene interaction between DRD2 and DRD4 is associated with the development of conduct disorder and adult antisocial behavior in males.