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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Michael Bell on April 30, 2006, at 23:54:38
Interesting article...
Dopamine system genes not linked to social phobia.Kennedy JL, Neves-Pereira M, King N, Lizak MV, Basile VS, Chartier MJ, Stein MB.
Neurogenetics Section, Clarke Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. james-kennedy@camh.net
Social phobia, particularly in its generalized form, has a genetic component in its etiology as suggested by positive twin studies and child temperament studies of social anxiety. Observations from functional imaging research suggest that dopamine function may be abnormal in the brains of patients with social phobia. Our investigation examined polymorphisms in the dopamine D2, D3 and D4 receptor genes, plus the dopamine transporter gene in a sample consisting of 17 multiplex social phobia families. We employed both parametric and non-parametric methods to test for linkage. Linkage was excluded for all loci under the broad diagnostic category. In the medium diagnostic category, the D3 receptor gene showed non-significant positive LOD scores (LOD = 0.62). We are able to clearly exclude a major effect for each of the four dopamine gene markers under the broad diagnosis of social phobia. Additional studies of dopamine system genes will be necessary to define clearly their role in social phobia.
PMID: 11807412 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Posted by anony on May 1, 2006, at 2:14:55
In reply to Dopamine NOT linked with social phobia, posted by Michael Bell on April 30, 2006, at 23:54:38
It looks like the research is rather saying that dopamine IS linked with social phobia...to me.
Am I reading it wrong?
Posted by Michael Bell on May 1, 2006, at 10:54:16
In reply to Re: Dopamine NOT linked with social phobia, posted by anony on May 1, 2006, at 2:14:55
> It looks like the research is rather saying that dopamine IS linked with social phobia...to me.
>
> Am I reading it wrong?They're saying that disfunction of dopamine as far as genes are concerned is not related to SP. They examined the different receptors and noticed no genetic variance between SP subjects and control subjects. However, they point out that there may be a link with dopamine and SP in some other non-genetic manner, and that more research is needed.
On another note, the researches of that well-known study which found the lower binding affinity of dopamine to D2 receptors hypothesized that the poor binding may not be a problem with D2 receptors themselves, but rather that disfunction of another system (i.e. GABA) causes too much dopamine release, and that the D2 receptors have downregulated and become desensitized as a result.
Posted by linkadge on May 1, 2006, at 15:50:10
In reply to Re: Dopamine NOT linked with social phobia » anony, posted by Michael Bell on May 1, 2006, at 10:54:16
Hmm, they tested the dopamine transporter, but they didn't test levels of monoamine oxidases. Both MAO-A, and B can affect dopamine levels.
And you're right, you don't need to have a genetic abnormality in a particular receptor in order for it to be modified by other means.
Linkadge
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