As a group, BDNF Met carriers reported greater symptoms of depression on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) than those without a Met allele (p = 0.004); COMT Val carriers reported greater symptoms on the PAI Schizophrenia (p = 0.007), Antisocial Features (p = 0.04), and Alcohol Problems (p = 0.03) scales than noncarriers.
The Val158-allele of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met (rs4680) functional polymorphism has been identified as a risk factor for antisocial behaviour in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
In this paper, we review the findings regarding four polymorphisms-MAOA (Monoamine oxidase A) uVNTR, SLC6A4 (solute carrier family 6 (neurotransmitter transporter), member 4) 5HTTLPR, COMT (Catechol-O-methyltransferase) Val158Met and DRD4 (dopamine D4 receptor) VNTR 1-11-that all have been found to be associated with an increased vulnerability for antisocial and impulsive behavior in response to aversive environmental conditions.
To replicate the association between COMT genotype and antisocial behavior in ADHD and to then test whether (1) impaired executive control or (2) impaired social understanding act as intermediate phenotypes for this association and lie on the risk pathway between COMT genotype and antisocial behavior.
To test if variations in the catechol O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) would prove useful in identifying the subset of children with ADHD who exhibit antisocial behavior.
In a recent study, Thapar and colleagues reported that COMT "gene variant and birth weight predict early-onset antisocial behavior in children" with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Early-onset antisocial behavior in a high-risk clinical group is predicted by a specific COMT gene variant previously linked with prefrontal cortical function and birth weight, and those possessing the val/val genotype are more susceptible to the adverse effects of prenatal risk as indexed by lower birth weight.
In a previous study, we found an association between type 1 (with late-onset but without prominent antisocial behavior) alcoholism and the low activity allele of the COMT gene.
Analysis of a functional catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism in schizophrenia: evidence for association with aggressive and antisocial behavior.