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This case-control study found an association between Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and a single nucleotide polymorphism (intronic rs2072621) of the gene encoding GPR50 (an orphan member of the G protein-coupled melatonin receptor subfamily) in females. This may represent a gender-specific risk factor and a molecular link between melatonin and SAD.

SummaryAddiction to various substances, including drugs and alcohol, probably arises from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. The genetic vulnerability to drug addiction is supported by several familial, adoption and twin studies. However, as in other mental disorders, the genetic vulnerability to drug addiction appears complex: these disorders do not follow the rules of Mendelian inheritance. Instead, they are probably influenced by multiple susceptibility genes, each of which contributes to the disorder. The more genes necessary for a disorder, the harder it is to detect any of them. This difficulty is magnified by the role of environmental factors. Association studies using the candidate gene approach can identify susceptibility genes for drug abuse supported by the pathophysiological hypothesis of the illness. This review will focus on the clinical and molecular genetic studies in drug abuse.

Anatomical, pharmacological and human post-mortem studies suggest the dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) gene as a candidate for drug dependence. We thus performed an association study of the Bal I polymorphism at the DRD3 gene, including 54 opiate addicts and 70 controls. Opiate addicts had a higher sensation-seeking score (on the Zückerman scale) than controls (P = 0.001), particularly a subgroup (70%) who had a distinctly higher score, exceeding 24. There were no marked differences in genotypes between patients as a whole and controls. However, patients with a sensation-seeking score above 24 were more frequently homozygotes for both alleles than patients with a sensation-seeking score under 24 (P = 0.038) or controls (P = 0.034). Although obtained in a sample of limited size, these results suggest that the DRD3 gene may have a role in drug dependence susceptibility in individuals with high sensation-seeking scores. This hypothesis is consistent with the role of DRD3 in mediating responses to drugs of abuse in animals and the association of homozygosity at the Bal I polymorphism with drug abuse in schizophrenic patients (see companion article by Krebs et al).

Background Only a few outcome measures specific to elbow pathology and the assessment of their impacts on function are valid and reliable when used in French speaking populations. The English version of the Patient Rated Elbow Evaluation (PREE) was determined to be an optimal candidate for translation. Hypothesis A French version of the PREE (PREE-Fr) will be generated and compared to its original version in terms of reliability and responsiveness. Materials and methods The PREE was translated following the guidelines of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Patients with a variety of elbow pathologies completed the French version of the PREE (PREE-Fr), the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) and the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) on three different occasions. The test-retest reliability of the PREE-Fr was calculated using questionnaires that were filled out with a one-week interval between them. The responsiveness was assessed using questionnaires filled out six months after treatment. Results A French version of the PREE was generated. Data gathered from 54 patients yielded an intra-class correlation coefficient for reliability of 0.89 (CI 95% : 0.79–0.94) for the PREE-Fr. For construct validity, using the Pearson correlation coefficient, we obtained excellent correlation between the PREE-Fr and QuickDASH at day one, one week and six months (0.89–0.96) while that between the PREE and MEPS was good to excellent (0.70–0.95). Responsiveness of the PREE-Fr was assessed and yielded a standardized response mean of 1.03, meaning that a large change was recorded between day one and six months. Discussion The PREE-Fr should be considered in French speaking populations for patients with elbow pathology, whether it is for research or evaluation purposes as it is valid, reliable and responsive to change. Level of evidence II (questionnaire validation).

International audience; A role of histaminergic neuronal systems in schizophrenia was suggested by an association with several polymorphisms located in the coding region of the histamine H2-receptor (H2R) gene (Orange et al, Mol Psychiatry 1996; 1: 466–469). Using either the reference method of direct sequencing or restriction endonuclease digestion of PCR products amplified from DNA, we could not confirm the existence of these polymorphisms in 53 Swedish controls, 52 French controls and 88 French schizophrenics. In contrast, we detected a G543A transition in the coding region of the gene that was not found in the British population. This allelic variation, which was observed in 15% of the controls with no homozygotes, did not change the amino acid sequence of the receptor. We also analyzed a 1.8-kb nucleotide sequence of the promoter region in which we detected two additional polymorphisms that may modulate the expression of the H2R gene. The first one was a A-592G transition located in the minimal promoter of the gene and found in ˜10% of controls with no homozygotes. The second one was a G-1018A transition located in an enhancer element of the promoter and was found in ˜20–30% of controls (with ˜2–4% homozygotes). DNA analysis of the 88 French schizophrenic subjects revealed that the incidence of the three polymorphisms was not significantly different in this population. In conclusion, the present findings may suggest a surprisingly high variability of the H2R gene polymorphisms in different geographical areas but do not support an association of these allelic variations with schizophrenia.

Introduction People with major mental disorders are more likely to be violent than other members of the general population. What is contoversial is the influence of the patients’ environnemental violence as regards their aggressive behaviors. The aim of the study was to assess the violence of patients with psychotic disorders regarding the crime rate in the patients’ community. Method We have led a prospective multicentre study in 9 French cities-each of them having different crime rates. Eligible patients were psychotic involuntary patients hospitalized in the cities’acute admission psychiatric wards. During their treatments, any kind of the patients’aggressive behavior has been reported by the OAS (Overt Aggresion Scale). Results From June 2010 to May 2011, 95 patients have been included. Seventy-nine per cent of the patients were violent during their hospitalizations. The patients’violence was mostly verbal (65%). In a bivariate analysis, the patients’violence was significantly associated to different factors: male gender, the patients's violence history, substance abuse, manic or mixed disorder, the symptoms severity measured by the BPRS, the insight degree and the crime rate in the city. In a multivariate analysis, the only significant factors associated with the patients’violence were substance abuse, the symptoms severity and the patients’cities’crime rates. Discussion The results are in accordance with the literature on the risk factors of violent behaviors.The environnemental factor-wich was until now not so much studied-also appears highly associated to this risk. Conclusion These results suggest that the violence within the psychotic patients’environnement could represent a risk of violence during the treatment.