Publicly available databases dbSNP (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/SNP/) and HapMap (http://hapmap.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) were used to identify SNPs within the CRHR1 gene, which is located on Chromosome 17q12-q22. Genotyping was performed using Sequenom MassArray technology (http://www.sequenom.com, San Diego, CA), homogenous MassEXTEND (hME). PCR primers, termination mixes, and multiplexing were determined with Sequenom MassARRAY Assay Designer software v3.1.2.2. The hME assay was carried out following standard procedures, and genotype spectra were analyzed with the Sequenom SpectroTYPER software v3.4. All genotypic data were checked for Mendelian inheritance of marker alleles with the USERM13 (Boehnke, 1991) option of the MENDEL linkage computer programs, which was then used to estimate marker allele frequencies. Chi-square tests were used to ensure that all SNPs were in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium.
