Gene Variants Predict Treatment Success for Alcoholism Medication

Scientists led by Bankole Johnson, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the department of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences at the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VI, USA) conducted a controlled trial to determine if the medication ondansetron could reduce problem drinking, in alcohol-dependent individuals. Ondansetron works by blocking receptors for the brain chemical serotonin.

The study was an extension of previous work on the role the brain's serotonin system plays in alcohol misuse. Serotonin mediates many processes in the brain, including the rewarding effects of alcohol. Dr. Johnson's group showed that variations in the gene that encodes the serotonin transporter, a protein that regulates the concentration of serotonin between nerve cells, could significantly influence drinking intensity.

Specifically, serotonin transporter variants designated as LL and TT were associated with more severe drinking problems. The scientists also reported that ondansetron might be an effective therapy for some people with alcoholism.

"By being able to do genetic screening beforehand, clinicians can eliminate a great deal of the trial and error approach to prescribing medicine," said Dr. Johnson. "Personalized medicine allows them to better predict a successful treatment option."

The study was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; Bethesda, MD, USA), part of the National Institutes of Health. A report of the findings appears online, and it is slated for print in the March 2011 edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Related Links:
Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism