Graffi Justin, Moss Ellen, Jolicoeur-Martineau Alexia, Moss Gal, Lecompte Vanessa, Pascuzzo Katherine, Babineau Vanessa, Gordon-Green Cathryn, Mileva-Seitz Viara R, Minde Klaus, Sassi Roberto, Carrey Normand, Kennedy James L, Gaudreau Helene, Levitan Robert, Meaney Michael, Wazana Ashley
McGill University, Montreal.
Centre for Child Development and Mental Health, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal.
McGill Sci Undergrad Res J. 2015 Mar;10(1):31-36.
The current paper aimed to explore the effects of birth weight and the 7-repeat allele in Exon III of the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene on the development of disorganized attachment, a potential endophenotype of depression. Infants born with low birth weight have been shown to be at higher risk for later neurological impairments, psychological disorders or behavioural problems. The DRD4 gene is critical for the cognitive and emotional processes that are sub-served by neural circuits in the prefrontal cortex. This paper examined the main effect of birth weight and DRD4 on the development of disorganized attachment.
Data was used from the Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment (MAVAN) project. The sample consisted of 251 mother-child dyads with complete data. Attachment style was assessed using the modified separation-reunion procedure.
There was no main effect for birth weight on disorganized attachment, (b = -0.001, = 0.998). There was, however, a main effect for the DRD4 7-repeat polymorphism on disorganized attachment (b = -1.120, = 0.004).
Compared to studies of similar design, the sample size in this study was relatively small. Additionally, a significant number of subjects did not have complete data.
Children without the DRD4 7-repeat allele were more likely to have disorganized attachment than children with the DRD4 7-repeat allele. This indicates that the 7-repeate allele of the DRD4 gene may actually serve as a protective factor against disorganized attachment.
本文旨在探讨出生体重和多巴胺D4受体（DRD4）基因外显子III中的7重复等位基因对紊乱型依恋（一种潜在的抑郁症内表型）发展的影响。低出生体重儿已被证明日后出现神经损伤、心理障碍或行为问题的风险更高。DRD4基因对于前额叶皮质神经回路所支持的认知和情感过程至关重要。本文研究了出生体重和DRD4对紊乱型依恋发展的主要影响。
使用来自母婴逆境、脆弱性和神经发育（MAVAN）项目的数据。样本包括251对拥有完整数据的母婴二元组。依恋风格采用改良的分离-团聚程序进行评估。
出生体重对紊乱型依恋没有主要影响（b = -0.001，p = 0.998）。然而，DRD4基因的7重复多态性对紊乱型依恋有主要影响（b = -1.120，p = 0.004）。
与类似设计的研究相比，本研究的样本量相对较小。此外，相当数量的受试者没有完整数据。
没有DRD4基因7重复等位基因的儿童比有该等位基因的儿童更有可能出现紊乱型依恋。这表明DRD4基因的7重复等位基因实际上可能是预防紊乱型依恋的保护因素。
