We found that disinhibition mediated the relation between GABRA2 genotype and adolescent alcohol problems. More specifically, we found that the AA/AG geno-types conferred greater risk for adolescent sensation seeking and impulsivity, which both in turn predicted adolescent-reported alcohol problems as well as change in these symptoms over an 18-month period. These results are similar to another study using an adult sample which found that NEO impulsiveness mediated the relation between GABRA2 and alcohol problems [24]. Taken together, it is possible that disinhibitory personality traits mediate the relation between GABRA2 and alcohol problems. However, based on the previous literature and current findings, it remains unclear exactly which aspect(s) of disinhibition mediate this relation.
