Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genetic polymorphism and job stress on the severity of alcohol drinking. It was hypothesized that individuals with the Met/Met BDNF genotype would be more vulnerable than those carrying the Val allele.

Methods : Participants were 133 healthy Korean adults (mean age 28.2 ± 1.1). Job stress and the severity index of drinking were investigated through self-reported questionnaires. BDNF (rs6265) gene was genotyped.

Results : There was no significant association between job stress and the severity of alcohol drinking. Although the severity of alcohol drinking was not associated with BDNF genetic polymorphism, there was a significant difference in men according to genotype and job stress. Men with homozygous BDNF Met allele were more severe in alcohol drinking when job stress was high, less severe in alcohol drinking when job stress was low than those carrying the Val allele (F = 4.47, p = 0.038). Also higher level of job stress was correlated with higher severity of alcohol drinking in men homozygous for BDNF Met allele (rs = 0.620, p = 0.005).

Conclusions : These findings suggest the possibility that Met allele could have differential susceptibility, with men homozygous for BDNF Met allele being more susceptible to both more adverse and less adverse environmental influences.

Keywords BDNF;Job stress;Severity of alcohol drinking;Differential susceptibility.