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Ernest P. Noble, PhD, MD
UCLA School of Medicine Los Angeles, Calif

Kenneth Blum, PhD
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio

JAMA. 1993;270(13):1547.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.

—Gelernter et al¹ reviewed studies of the D₂ dopamine receptor locus (DRD₂) Al allelic association with alcoholism. They claim no association exists. In response to this assertion, we have reanalyzed the data they have presented and carefully addressed the issues pointed out by Gelernter et al and other analyses relevant to this association. We find the following:

1. 1. In analyzing the data in Table 1 of Gelernter et al, Al frequency is 0.19 (n=307) in unscreened controls vs 0.11 (n=186) in screened (alcoholics excluded) controls. A significant difference is found between these two controls (2,5.17; P=.02). It is important that association studies of alcoholics use controls carefully screened for alcoholism for comparison.
   
2. 2. When the data on alcoholics (severe and not severe) are compared with the screened controls presented in Table 1 by Gelernter et al, Al frequency is 0.19 (n=502) in the alcoholics
   

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