Journal article

Modeling gene-environment interaction in longitudinal data: Risk for neuroticism due to interaction between maternal care and the Dopamine 4 Receptor gene (DRD4)

PB Badcock, E Moore, E Williamson, M Berk, LJ Williams, O Bjerkeset, HM Nordahl, GC Patton, CA Olsson

Australian Journal of Psychology | WILEY | Published : 2011

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate risk for neuroticism due to the joint action of low maternal care and compromised mesocorticolimbic 'reward' system function linked to a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in the dopamine 4 receptor gene (DRD4). Data were drawn from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study, a longitudinal study of the health and well-being of 2,000 young Australians followed from adolescence to young adulthood across 8 waves from 14- to 28-years. Genetic risk was defined by carriage of at least one copy of the 7-repeat allele or derivative alleles 5, 6, and 8 (labeled 7R+). Neuroticism was assessed in adolescence and young adulthood. We observed an approxima..

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Funding Acknowledgements

This research is based on data from the 2000 Stories, a study primarily funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. The authors thank the 2000 Stories participants for their participation. CAO is supported by a Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (Australia) Research Fellowship. G.C.P. is supported by an NH&MRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship. The authors would also like to thank A/Prof Sheryl Hemphill, Prof Glenn Bowes, Dr Richard Anney, Ms Menrnoush Lotfi, Ms Mandy Parkinson-Bates, Dr Trevor Cameron, and Dr Sue Forrest for their valuable contributions to this research.