A possible association between the CCK-AR gene and persistent auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia

Recent studies have suggested that DNA variations in the CCK-AR gene might predispose individuals to schizophrenia and particularly to auditory hallucinations (AH). The aim of this study is to assess the association between AH, using a specific scale for AH in schizophrenia (PSYRATS), and the CCK-AR polymorphism at 779 in a Spanish sample. A total of 105 DSM-IV schizophrenic patients with AH and 93 unrelated controls were studied. Twenty-two patients were considered as persistent auditory hallucinators, which showed similar clinical and demographic characteristic than patients with episodic AH, but with the exception of the PSYRATS values. The persistent AH group showed an excess of the Al allele when was compared with episodic or control groups. Our data support the possible role of the CCK-AR gene in the development of persistent AH in schizophrenic patients. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier SAS.