Association between Polymorphism rs1799732 of DRD2 Dopamine Receptor Gene and Personality Traits among Cannabis Dependency

Jolanta Chmielowiec; Krzysztof Chmielowiec; Jolanta Masiak; Małgorzata Śmiarowska; Aleksandra Strońska-Pluta; Violetta Dziedziejko; Anna Grzywacz

doi:10.3390/ijerph191710915

Association between Polymorphism rs1799732 of DRD2 Dopamine Receptor Gene and Personality Traits among Cannabis Dependency

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 1;19(17):10915. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191710915.

Authors

Jolanta Chmielowiec¹, Krzysztof Chmielowiec¹, Jolanta Masiak², Małgorzata Śmiarowska³, Aleksandra Strońska-Pluta⁴, Violetta Dziedziejko⁵, Anna Grzywacz⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Gora, 28 Zyty St., 65-046 Zielona Gora, Poland.
² Second Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Głuska St., 20-059 Lublin, Poland.
³ Department of Pharmacokinetics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
⁴ Independent Laboratory of Health Promotion, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 11 Chlapowskiego St., 70-204 Szczecin, Poland.
⁵ Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.

Abstract

Compared to other addictive substances, patients with cannabis addiction are significantly outnumbered by those who report dependence on other, more addictive substances. Unfortunately, most cannabis addiction goes untreated, and among those who choose treatment, the requirements are much higher for adolescents and young adults.

The aim of the study: To examine the relationship of cannabinoid dependency in the genetic context-the association between the rs1799732 polymorphism of the DRD2 gene and psychological traits and anxiety.

Methods: The study group consisted of 515 male volunteers. Of these, 214 patients were diagnosed with cannabis addiction and 301 were non-addicted. Patients were diagnosed with NEO Five-Factor Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaires. The interactions between personality traits and polymorphisms in the DRD2 rs1799732 gene were investigated in a group of cannabis-addicted patients and non-addicted controls using the real-time PCR method.

Results: Compared to the control group, the case group obtained significantly higher scores on the STAI State, STAI Trait, Neuroticism and Openness scales, as well as lower scores on the Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness scales. There was no statistically significant difference between addicts and the control group in the frequency of genotypes, but there was a statistically significant difference between addicts and the control group in the frequency of the DRD2 allele rs179973. The multivariate ANOVA analysis showed a statistically significant influence of the DRD2 rs1799732 genotype on the NEO-FFI agreeableness scale and a statistically significant effect of addiction to cannabinoids or its absence on the NEO-FFI agreeableness scale score.

Conclusions: Studying homogeneous subgroups-as in our study-seems reasonable, particularly when combined with genetic determinants and psychological traits. In multigenic and multifactorial entities, such a strategy has a future.

Keywords: DRD2 gene; addiction.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Cannabis*
Dopamine
Humans
Male
Marijuana Abuse* / genetics
Personality Inventory
Personality* / genetics
Receptors, Dopamine
Receptors, Dopamine D2* / genetics
Young Adult

Substances

DRD2 protein, human
Receptors, Dopamine
Receptors, Dopamine D2
Dopamine

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the National Science Center, Poland, grant number UMO-2015/19/B/NZ7/03691.