- were predictive of later alcohol abuse.73 Furthermore, certain genetic variants have been found to be associated with alcoholism as well as certain psychiatric disorders.52,74 Several studies of the genetics of psychopathology have identified common genes that may be associated with a variety of disordered behaviors. For example, the D4 dopamine receptor gene has been linked to attention deficit-hyper-activity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, and alcohol craving.64 Likewise, a polymorphism of the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5′HTLPR, locus ID SLC6A4) has been associated with alcohol dependence,75,76 suicide attempts,77 anxiety symptoms,78 and major depressive disorder.79 These results however, are mixed, and several negative findings question the replicability of the positive findings.
