Objective: To investigate the relationship between 5-HTTLPR and/or DRD4 gene polymorphisms and the accident tendentiousness of drivers.
Methods: A case-control study, including 42 patients and 46 controls, were performed using type-A behavior questionnaire and EPQ scale. 5-HTTLPR and DRD4 gene -521 C/T were detected by the PCR-RFLP technique.
Results: The scores of type-A behavior questionnaires, such as TH and TH + CH in exposure group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). P and N scores of EPQ questionnaires in exposure group were significantly higher than those in control group, and L score in exposure group was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). There were significant differences in the frequencies of the genotypes and alleles of 5-HTTLPR gene between the cases and the controls (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in the frequencies of the genotypes and alleles of DRD4 gene between the two groups (P > 0.05). In the drivers with the accident tendentiousness, P scores in the cases with homozygous genotypes of the S/S in 5-HTTLPR gene were significantly higher than those in the cases with the genotypes of S/L and L/L in 5-HTTLPR gene (P > 0.05). E scores in subjects with homozygous genotypes of the T/T in DRD4 gene were significantly higher than those in subjects with genotypes of the T/C+C/C in DRD4 gene (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The driver accident tendentiousness may be associated with 5-HTTLPR gene, but not associated with DRD4 gene. The two genes are associated with the type-A behavior and personality characteristics of drivers with accident tendentiousness. However, 5-HTTLPR and DRD4 gene may not have synergism in these behaviors and personality.