CONNECTIVITY GENES IN COMORBID ALCOHOLISM AND BIPOLAR DISORDER

Discussion These genes replicated prior genetic reports implicating “connectivity” (adhesion, migration and neuronal signalling) genes in addictions and comorbid BPD. Connectivity genes regulate neuronal connections during development and play roles in later neuroadaptive and mnemonic processes. These processes may influence addiction vulnerability, as seen clinically in denial, cognitive impairment, and repetitive substance misuse and relapse behaviour. We propose that we have identified genes i) increasing susceptibility to alcoholism that could be unmasked or released by the presence of bipolar affective disorder; ii) and genes increasing susceptibility to affective disorder that also predispose to secondary alcoholism. We were limited by small sample size. Larger future studies are needed.