Page 28 - JCBP-2-4

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Genetic factors and personality disorders

Moreover, individuals with nonaffective psychosis Another study discovered a positive association
are at increased risk of heroin. As a result, the use of between prior hallucinogen use and specific traits related
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hallucinogens may influence the probability of heroin to seeking new sensations, impulsive behavior, and
use. According to the Swedish system for substance use, challenges in regulating emotions among adolescents
all the studied substances are linked to increased risk of who were hospitalized for treatment. It is important for
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psychosis. However, the literature on the heroin use and clinicians to recognize the prevalence of hallucinogen
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risk of psychosis is controversial. use and the increased likelihood of encountering mental
Another research paper investigated the usage patterns health problems among individuals who engage in such
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of heroin and delved into a longitudinal study assessing the use. The existing body of literature has outlined the
outcomes of treatment for heroin dependence. Notably, the current understanding of the molecular genetic responses
study highlights the substantial prevalence of psychiatric occurring in the brain in response to psychedelics, and has
comorbidities within this population, including a lifetime explored how changes in gene expression can potentially
occurrence of 37% for post-traumatic stress disorder, lead to modified cellular physiology and behaviors. 46
23% for major depression, 75% for anti-social personality The COMT enzyme is responsible for the breakdown
disorder, and 51% for borderline personality disorder. 39 of dopamine and other catechols. Comorbid substance
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The precise mechanism by which hallucinogens use in individuals with schizophrenia was found to be
influence genetic factors remains uncertain. One linked to genetic variations in genes associated with
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animal study provided the initial evidence showing dopaminergic neurotransmitter systems. Furthermore,
that the administration of a low dose of d-LSD, which numerous studies have shown that COMT gene variants are
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has significant behavioral implicsations, leads to the associated with personality traits. Moreover, a previous
immediate activation of c-Fos gene in specific regions of study demonstrated that in individuals with substance
the rat forebrain. 40 use disorder, the activity of soluble COMT was found
to be correlated with the severity of drug dependence.
In our study, hallucinogen use was associated with Additionally, it was associated with factors related to
rs3792738 (P < 0.05), rs10062367 (P < 0.05), and rs1875999 impulsivity (self-control and non-planning). 50
(P < 0.01). Further research is needed to expand our
understanding of the complex relationship between heroin Our study uncovered a significant association between
use, hallucinogen use, genetic factors, and psychiatric certain genetic factors related to COMT and stress and the
comorbidity. presence of antisocial personality disorder. The majority
of the pertinent factors were found to be associated with
4.3. Genetics and personality disorder COMT.
Genetic studies indicate that personality disorders 4.3.1. Schizoid personality disorder, genetics and
classified under DSM-IV axis II exhibit a moderate level heroin use
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of heritability. The heritability of addictions falls within
a moderate-to-high range, which presents a paradox since Schizoid personality disorder is one of the “cluster A”
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these disorders involve substance use, which is influenced personality disorders. Individuals with schizoid personality
by genetic and environmental factors. Another study disorder may be at an increased risk for developing addictive
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proposes that individuals with more impulsive behavior behaviors as a means of coping with their emotional
may have an increased risk for substance use disorders detachment and social isolation. The tendency to experience
due to a reduced expression of the gene responsible for limited emotional range and difficulty forming meaningful
encoding the 5-HTT transporter, which can be attributed connections can lead to a reliance on substances or addictive
to the “S” promoter polymorphism. 43 behaviors, a way to alleviate feelings of emptiness or
numbness.
Numerous individuals are exposed to addictive
substances during pain treatment, yet the majority do Overall, our study revealed no significant association
not develop addiction, despite experiencing temporary between schizotypal personality disorder and investigated
tolerance and dependence. The likelihood of initial genetic factors (e.g., COMT) in female individuals with
substance use and the development of pathological heroin dependence.
usage patterns are influenced by inherent factors such 4.3.2. Paranoid personality disorder
as genotype, gender, preexisting addictive disorders,
or other mental illnesses. To mitigate the influence of When examining the relationship between paranoid
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gender, we incorporated exclusively female participants personality disorder and heroin use, it is important to
in this study. consider the potential implications and interactions. While

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2024) 6 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.3890