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COMT genotype and manic symptoms in schizophrenia
Pamela DeRosse1, Birgit Funke, Katherine E Burdick
1Department of Psychiatry Research, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, 75-59 263rd Street, Glen Oaks, NY 11004, and Harvard Partners Center for Genetics and Genomics, Boston, MA, United States. pderosse@lij.edu
Schizophrenia Research
|July 11, 2006
Summary
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene variation is linked to schizophrenia symptom severity. A specific COMT haplotype was significantly associated with manic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neurogenetics
- Psychiatric Disorders
Background:
- Schizophrenia (SZ) is a complex psychiatric disorder.
- Genetic factors, including Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) variation, are implicated in schizophrenia.
- Previous studies show inconsistent associations between COMT and schizophrenia, possibly due to varied phenotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between COMT gene variation and symptom severity in schizophrenia.
- To explore if a specific COMT haplotype is linked to manic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of 162 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
- Analysis of COMT haplotype association with symptom severity, focusing on manic symptoms.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between a specific COMT haplotype and the severity of manic symptoms.
- This finding suggests a potential role for COMT in the expression of manic symptoms within the schizophrenia spectrum.
Conclusions:
- COMT gene variation may influence comorbid manic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
- Delineating specific phenotypes, such as manic symptoms, is crucial for clarifying the role of COMT in schizophrenia.
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