ALLELIC ASSOCIATION OF THE HUMAN DOPAMINE (D2) RECEPTOR GENE IN COMPULSIVE DISORDERS SUCH AS ALCOHOLISM

摘要

In an important embodiment, the present invention concerns a method for diagnosing compulsive disease predisposition of an individual. The method comprises initially obtaining a DNA sample of said individual and then determining the presence or absence of a particular human D2 receptor gene allele in said sample. Detection of said allele in the sample is indicative of predilection to compulsive disease. A most preferred embodiment is to detect a susceptibility to alcoholism, particularly because said allele has been found to be present in a majority of clinically diagnosed alcoholics. The human D2 receptor gene A1 allele is most preferably detected in said sample.