Overview of the Genetics of Alcohol Use Disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic psychiatric illness characterized by harmful drinking patterns leading to negative emotional, physical, and social ramifications. While the underlying pathophysiology of AUD is poorly understood, there is substantial evidence for a genetic component; however, identification of universal genetic risk variants for AUD has been difficult. Recent efforts in the search for AUD susceptibility genes will be reviewed in this article.

Methods

In this review, we provide an overview of genetic studies on AUD, including twin studies, linkage studies, candidate gene studies, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS).

Results

Several potential genetic susceptibility factors for AUD have been identified, but the genes of alcohol metaboli

SUBMITTER: Tawa EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5004749 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature