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. 2010 Feb;119(1):115-25.
doi: 10.1037/a0017550.

Polymorphisms of the mu-opioid receptor and dopamine D4 receptor genes and subjective responses to alcohol in the natural environment

Lara A Ray  1 , Robert Miranda Jr, Jennifer W Tidey, John E McGeary, James MacKillop, Chad J Gwaltney, Damaris J Rohsenow, Robert M Swift, Peter M Monti
Affiliations

Polymorphisms of the mu-opioid receptor and dopamine D4 receptor genes and subjective responses to alcohol in the natural environment

Lara A Ray et al. J Abnorm Psychol. 2010 Feb.

Abstract

Polymorphisms of the mu-opioid receptor (OPRM1) and dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) genes are associated with subjective responses to alcohol and urge to drink under laboratory conditions. This study examined these associations in the natural environment using ecological momentary assessment. Participants were non-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers (n = 112, 52% female, 61% alcohol dependent) who enrolled in a study of naltrexone effects on craving and drinking in the natural environment. Data were culled from 5 consecutive days of drinking reports prior to medication randomization. Analyses revealed that, after drinking, carriers of the Asp40 allele of the OPRM1 gene reported higher overall levels of vigor and lower levels negative mood, as compared to homozygotes for the Asn40 variant. Carriers of the long allele (i.e., >or=7 tandem repeats) of the DRD4 endorsed greater urge to drink than homozygotes for the short allele. Effects of OPRM1 and DRD4 variable-number-of-tandem-repeats genotypes appear to be alcohol dose-dependent. Specifically, carriers of the DRD4-L allele reported slight decreases in urge to drink at higher levels of estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC), and Asp40 carriers reported decreases in vigor and increases in negative mood as eBAC rose, as compared to carriers of the major allele for each gene. Self-reported vigor and urge to drink were positively associated with alcohol consumption within the same drinking episode. This study extends findings on subjective intoxication, urge to drink, and their genetic bases from controlled laboratory to naturalistic settings.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Vigor as a function of eBAC for individuals with the Asn40Asn and Asn40Asp genotypes of the OPRM1 gene
Figure 2
Figure 2
Negative mood as a function of eBAC for individuals with the Asn40Asn and Asn40Asp genotypes of the OPRM1 gene
Figure 3
Figure 3
Urge to drink as a function of eBAC for individuals with the Short and Long alleles of the DRD4 gene
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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