Gene-environment interaction in hyperkinetic conduct disorder (HD + CD) as indicated by season of birth variations in dopamine receptor (DRD4) gene polymorphism.

Recently, an interaction between season of birth and the expression of candidate genes has been suggested. Season of birth variations in tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) and the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene polymorphisms are different for affective disorders and schizophrenia. The DRD4 gene has been postulated as a candidate gene for attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), equivalent to hyperkinetic disorder (HD).

Sleep attacks, daytime sleepiness, and dopamine agonists in Parkinson's disease.

To study the putative association of dopamine agonists with sleep attacks in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their relation to daytime sleepiness, we performed a survey of 2,952 PD patients in two German counties. In 177 patients, sudden, unexpected, and irresistible sleep episodes while engaged in some activity were identified in a structured telephone interview. Ninety-one of these patients denied the occurrence of appropriate warning signs.

Body image distortion reveals amygdala activation in patients with anorexia nervosa -- a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

In anorexia nervosa patients, body image distortion is a core and often persistent symptom, which continues to pose a risk for relapse even after weight recovery. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in combination with a computer-based life image distortion technique, we stimulated female anorectic patients and healthy controls with digital pictures of their own body image, individually distorted by themselves. In anorectic patients, stimulation with their own body image was associated with activation in the right amygdala, the right gyrus fusiformis and the brainstem region.