Eglovitch Michelle, Edwards Alexis, Polak Kathryn, Ondersma Steven J, Kendler Kenneth, Svikis Dace
Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23284-2018, United States.
Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, 800 E. Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23298-0126, United States.
Alcohol Alcohol. 2025 May 14;60(4). doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agaf028.
Many genetic studies of psychiatric disorders rely on participants to mail in DNA samples. Differences in who returns a sample may affect the generalizability of these studies, but little attention has focused on possible differences between participants who do and do not provide samples. The present study compared participants with severe lifetime alcohol use disorder (AUD) who did and did not return saliva DNA samples.
N = 3927 individuals were recruited through Facebook for a genome-wide association study of severe AUD. Participants completed an online survey and agreed to provide a saliva DNA sample by mail. Survey measures included: demographics, quantity and frequency of recent alcohol and tobacco use, impulsivity, and personality. Participants who returned the saliva kit (n = 2412) were compared to those who did not provide DNA samples (n = 1515) were compared using univariate Chi-square and t-tests.
The sample was predominantly White (88.3%) and female (64.0%). DNA providers were more likely than non-providers to report graduate-level education. DNA providers were also less likely to report recent cigarette smoking and scored higher on measures of conscientiousness, perseverance, and premeditation. Using multivariate regression, the most parsimonious model found that being male, a non-smoker, and endorsing perseverance was associated with providing DNA.
In an online sample of individuals with severe AUD, participants who did not provide DNA samples showed multiple demographic and psychosocial differences from those who did provide samples. These findings may have implications for generalizability and suggest that further research is needed.
许多精神疾病的基因研究依赖参与者邮寄DNA样本。回复样本的人群差异可能会影响这些研究的普遍性，但很少有人关注提供样本和未提供样本的参与者之间可能存在的差异。本研究比较了患有严重终生酒精使用障碍（AUD）且返回和未返回唾液DNA样本的参与者。
通过脸书招募了N = 3927名个体，用于严重酒精使用障碍的全基因组关联研究。参与者完成了一项在线调查，并同意通过邮寄提供唾液DNA样本。调查指标包括：人口统计学特征、近期酒精和烟草使用量及频率、冲动性和人格。使用单变量卡方检验和t检验，比较了返回唾液试剂盒的参与者（n = 2412）和未提供DNA样本的参与者（n = 1515）。
样本主要为白人（88.3%）和女性（64.0%）。提供DNA者比未提供者更有可能报告拥有研究生学历。提供DNA者近期吸烟的可能性也较小，在尽责性、毅力和预谋性测量中得分更高。使用多元回归分析，最简约的模型发现，男性、不吸烟和具有毅力与提供DNA相关。
在患有严重酒精使用障碍的在线样本中，未提供DNA样本的参与者与提供样本的参与者在多个人口统计学和心理社会方面存在差异。这些发现可能对普遍性有影响，并表明需要进一步研究。
