Several studies reported an association of the 118G allele with alcohol dependence (AD) in different populations (e.g. Bart et al. 2005; Deb et al. 2010; Kim et al. 2004; Nishizawa et al. 2006; Rommelspacher et al. 2001; Schinka et al. 2002), and with the development of alcohol use disorder diagnoses during adolescence in EA drinkers (Miranda et al. 2010). Carriers of the 118G allele were more sensitive to the euphoric effects of alcohol, more likely to abuse alcohol and had greater cue-induced alcohol craving during neutral condition, when compared to stressful imagery condition (Ray 2011; Ray and Hutchison 2004). Increased dopaminergic sensitivity (assessed by using the apomorphine induced growth hormone secretion as indicator) was reported in abstinent alcoholic individuals who were 118G carriers (Smolka et al. 1999). Several studies did not find association with this variant (e.g. Bergen et al. 1997; Gscheidel et al. 2000; Loh el et al. 2004; Sander et al. 1998; Town et al. 1999).
