Nikitopoulos Jörg, Zohsel Katrin, Blomeyer Dorothea, Buchmann Arlette F, Schmid Brigitte, Jennen-Steinmetz Christine, Becker Katja, Schmidt Martin H, Esser Günter, Brandeis Daniel, Banaschewski Tobias, Laucht Manfred
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
Department of Biostatistics, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
J Psychiatr Res. 2014 Dec;59:53-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.08.012. Epub 2014 Aug 27.
Insensitive and unresponsive caregiving during infancy has been linked to externalizing behavior problems during childhood and adolescence. The 7-repeat (7r) allele of the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene has meta-analytically been associated with a heightened susceptibility to adverse as well as supportive environments. In the present study, we examined long-term effects of early maternal care, DRD4 genotype and the interaction thereof on externalizing and internalizing psychopathology during adolescence. As part of an ongoing epidemiological cohort study, early maternal care was assessed at child's age 3 months during a nursing and playing situation. In a sample of 296 offspring, externalizing and internalizing symptoms were assessed using a psychiatric interview conducted at age 15 years. Parents additionally filled out a questionnaire on their children's psychopathic behaviors. Results indicated that adolescents with the DRD4 7r allele who experienced less responsive and stimulating early maternal care exhibited more symptoms of ADHD and CD/ODD as well as higher levels of psychopathic behavior. In accordance with the hypothesis of differential susceptibility, 7r allele carriers showed fewer ADHD symptoms and lower levels of psychopathic behavior when exposed to especially beneficial early caregiving. In contrast, individuals without the DRD4 7r allele proved to be insensitive to the effects of early maternal care. This study replicates earlier findings with regard to an interaction between DRD4 genotype and early caregiving on externalizing behavior problems in preschoolers. It is the first one to imply continuity of this effect until adolescence.
婴儿期照料不敏感和无反应与儿童期和青少年期的外化行为问题有关。多巴胺D4受体（DRD4）基因的7重复（7r）等位基因经荟萃分析表明与对不良环境及支持性环境的易感性增强有关。在本研究中，我们考察了早期母亲照料、DRD4基因型及其相互作用对青少年期外化和内化精神病理学的长期影响。作为一项正在进行的流行病学队列研究的一部分，在孩子3个月大时，于喂奶和玩耍情境中对早期母亲照料进行评估。在296名后代的样本中，在15岁时通过精神病学访谈评估外化和内化症状。父母还填写了一份关于其子女精神病态行为的问卷。结果表明，携带DRD4 7r等位基因且早期母亲照料反应性和刺激性较低的青少年表现出更多的注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）和品行障碍/对立违抗障碍（CD/ODD）症状以及更高水平的精神病态行为。与差异易感性假说一致，7r等位基因携带者在受到特别有益的早期照料时，ADHD症状较少，精神病态行为水平较低。相比之下，没有DRD4 7r等位基因的个体被证明对早期母亲照料的影响不敏感。本研究重复了早期关于DRD4基因型与早期照料对学龄前儿童外化行为问题相互作用的研究结果。这是首个表明这种影响持续到青少年期的研究。
