Genetic study of neuregulin 1 and receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-4 in tardive dyskinesia.

OBJECTIVES: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a movement disorder that may develop as a side effect of antipsychotic medication. The aetiology underlying TD is unclear, but a number of mechanisms have been proposed.

METHODS: We investigated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes coding for neuregulin-1 and erbB-4 receptor in our sample of 153 European schizophrenia patients for possible association with TD.

RESULTS: We found the ERBB4 rs839523 CC genotype to be associated with risk for TD occurrence and increased severity as measured by the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) (P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS: This study supports a role for the neuregulin signalling pathway in TD, although independent replications are warranted.