The dopamine D4 receptor gene exon III polymorphism is associated with novelty seeking in 15-year-old males from a high-risk community sample

Summary.

In recent years, studies focussing on a possible association between the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene exon III polymorphism and the personality trait of novelty seeking (NS) have yielded inconsistent results. The present study sought to examine the association of the DRD4-7r allele with NS in a sample of 303 15-year-old adolescents (144 males, 159 females) using data from a high-risk community sample. The Junior Temperament and Character Inventory – JTCI/12–18 was administered to assess dimensions of adolescent temperament. Males in the DRD4-7r allele group scored significantly higher on the NS (p = .002) and the harm avoidance (p = .045) scales than males without this allele. In females no association with temperament was observed. This association could not be explained by the presence of either an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or a DRD4 by ADHD interaction.