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S006-1

Genetic and Imaging Studies in Substance Abuse Disorder

Nahla Nagy

Ain Shams University, Egypt

Background/Objective: Most psychiatric disorders are highly heritable. Genetic risk factors have
been found with the endophenotypes of psychiatric disorders, rather than with the diagnoses
themselves. Thus , these factors are associated with particular symptoms, not with the overall
diagnosis.

Method: A systematized literature review was performed for papers addressing the genetics and
imaging studies of substance use disorder .

Result: The mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) plays a key role in pain perception, response to
opioids and opioid addiction. Several gene polymorphisms on OPRM1 have been associated with
higher opioid requirements, opioid addiction and/or less control of pain. Among them, 118AG and
17CT are the most studied, which are uncommon in Caucasian patients. [18F]Fallypride PET
measurement of striatal and extrastriatal dopamine D2/3 receptor availability showed accelerated
loss of dopamine D2/3 receptors in the striatum as well as thalamus and insular region of patients
with alcohol abuse disorder

Conclusion: Both genetic and environmental factors affect each others and display at the end the
peculiar psychiatric presentation in every patient.

Reference: Dubovsky S, and Dubovsky S .How Does Pain Influence Opioid Craving?
Journal Watch, Mar 2015; 2015: NA37253.