Mapping Personality Traits to Genes

Mental Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title:

Mapping Personality Traits to Genes

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00001414
• Other study ID #: 940122
• Secondary ID: 94-M-0122
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: November 3, 1999
• Last updated: March 3, 2008
• Start date: April 1994
• Est. completion date: June 2002

Study information

• Verified date: June 2002
• Source: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

Previous research involving families, twins, and adoption all support the idea that there is a substantial heritable aspect to personality.

The goal of this research study is to determine how genetics influence heritable personality traits. The work will focus on how genetics affect the chemical messengers which brain cells use to communicate with each other (neurotransmitters).

The study involves collecting personality data and DNA samples from related individuals, primarily male siblings and female siblings, but also including parents. Genetic tests performed on these samples will continue to focus on variations in genes, which potentially effect brain neurotransmission.

This research has the potential to advance knowledge of genetic influences on human behavior that may be relevant both to normal personality and to psychopathology.

Description:

Building on family, twin and adoption studies suggesting that substantial aspects of personality are heritable, research under this protocol explores potential genetic influences on normal personality dimensions. We have previously reported associations between variation in neurotransmitter system genes and variation in personality traits, both across and within families, in a sample of the general population. This study involves collecting personality data and DNA samples from related individuals, primarily male siblings and female siblings, but also including parents. Genetic tests performed on these samples will continue to focus on variations in genes, which potentially affect brain neurotransmission. In some cases, participants are recontacted to specifically investigate whether identified variations in neurotransmitter system genes actually affect neurotransmission. Large population samples are needed in this research, particularly since a new epidemiologically standard population sample will be obtained. This research has the potential to advance knowledge of genetic influences on human behavior that may be relevant both to normal personality and to psychopathology.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 2400
• Est. completion date: June 2002
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: N/A and older

Eligibility

Personality data and DNA samples will be collected from related individuals, primarily pairs of male and pairs of female siblings, but also including parents.

Study Design

N/A

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Mental Disorder
• Mental Disorders
• Psychotic Disorders

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)	Bethesda	Maryland

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (3)

Ahern FM, Johnson RC, Wilson JR, McClearn GE, Vandenberg SG. Family resemblances in personality. Behav Genet. 1982 May;12(3):261-80. — View Citation

Amos CI, Elston RC, Wilson AF, Bailey-Wilson JE. A more powerful robust sib-pair test of linkage for quantitative traits. Genet Epidemiol. 1989;6(3):435-49. — View Citation

Benjamin J, Li L, Patterson C, Greenberg BD, Murphy DL, Hamer DH. Population and familial association between the D4 dopamine receptor gene and measures of Novelty Seeking. Nat Genet. 1996 Jan;12(1):81-4. — View Citation