Citation

Andreou D, Comasco E, Aslund C, Nilsson KW, Hodgins S. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 2018; 12: e112.

Affiliation

Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Frontiers Research Foundation)

DOI

10.3389/fnhum.2018.00112

PMID

29623035

PMCID

PMC5874495

Abstract

The oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) influences human behavior. The G allele ofOXTRrs53576 has been associated with both prosocial and maladaptive behaviors but few studies have taken account of environmental factors. The present study determined whether the association of childhood maltreatment with conduct problems was modified byOXTRrs53576 genotypes. In a general population sample of 1591 teenagers, conduct problems as well as maltreatment were measured by self-report. DNA was extracted from saliva samples. In males, there was a significant positive association between maltreatment and conduct problems independent of the genotype. In females, among G allele carriers, the level of conduct problems was significantly higher among those who had been maltreated as compared to those not maltreated. By contrast, among female AA carriers, conduct problems did not vary between those who were, and who were not, maltreated. The results indicate thatOXTRrs53576 plays a role in antisocial behavior in females such that the G allele confers vulnerability for antisocial behavior if they experience maltreatment, whereas the A allele has a protective effect.

Language: en

Keywords

conduct problems; gene–environment interaction; maltreatment; oxytocin receptor gene; rs53576