Interaction Effects between the Cumulative Genetic Score and Psychosocial Stressor on Self-Reported Drinking Urge and Implicit Attentional Bias for Alcohol: A Human Laboratory Study.

Aims: The current candidate gene and environment interaction (cGxE) study examined whether the effects of an experimentally manipulated psychosocial stressor on self-reported drinking urge and implicit attentional bias for alcohol cues differ as a function of a cumulative genetic score of 5-HTTLPR, MAO-A, DRD4, DAT1 and DRD2 genotypes. The current study also examined whether salivary alpha-amylase level or self-reported anxiety state mediate these cGxE effects.

Short Summary: Individuals with high cumulative genetic risk score of the five monoamergic genotypes showed greater attentional bias toward alcohol cues when exposed to a psychosocial stressor than when not exposed.