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Mechanisms in the relation between GABRA2 and adolescent externalizing problems

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An Erratum to this article was published on 05 May 2015

Abstract

Conduct problems, alcohol problems and hyperactive–inattentive symptoms co-occur at a high rate and are heritable in adolescence. The γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor, α2 gene (GABRA2) is associated with a broad spectrum of externalizing problems and disinhibitory-related traits. The current study tested whether two important forms of disinhibition in adolescence, impulsivity and sensation seeking, mediated the effects of GABRA2 on hyperactive–inattentive symptoms, conduct problems, and alcohol problems. Participants were assessed at two waves (11–17 and 12–18 years old; N = 292). Analyses used the GABRA2 SNP, rs279858, which tags the two complementary (yin–yang) GABRA2 haplotypes. Multiple informants reported on adolescents’ impulsivity and sensation seeking and adolescents self-reported their hyperactive–inattentive symptoms, conduct problems and lifetime alcohol problems. Impulsivity mediated the effect of GABRA2 on alcohol problems, hyperactive–inattentive symptoms, and conduct problems, whereas sensation seeking mediated the effect of GABRA2 on alcohol problems (AA/AG genotypes conferred risk). GABRA2 directly predicted adolescent alcohol problems, but the GG genotype conferred risk. Results suggest that there may be multiple pathways of risk from GABRA2 to adolescent externalizing problems, and suggest important avenues for future research.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: R01 AA016213 and R21 AA022097-02 to Laurie Chassin, P50 AA11998-01 to the Midwest Alcohol Research Center, and F31 AA023128-01 to Frances Wang. Approval was obtained by the Institutional Review Boards at Arizona State University (IRB# 0506000017) and Washington University in St. Louis (IRB# 201110243).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, 950 S. McAllister Ave, P.O. Box 871104, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1104, USA

    Frances L. Wang, Laurie Chassin & Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant

  2. Department of Psychology, Utah State University, 2810 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322-2810, USA

    Christian Geiser

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  1. Frances L. Wang
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Correspondence to Frances L. Wang.

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Wang, F.L., Chassin, L., Geiser, C. et al. Mechanisms in the relation between GABRA2 and adolescent externalizing problems. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 25, 67–80 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-015-0703-7

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