COMT Val 158 Met polymorphism is related with interpersonal problem solving in schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Genetics

Background:

• Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder associated with cognitive deficits.
• The Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme plays a role in dopamine regulation, impacting cognitive functions.
• The Val158Met polymorphism in the COMT gene is frequently studied for its influence on brain function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and interpersonal problem-solving abilities.
• To investigate the association between the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and cognitive functions in individuals with schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

• Genotyping of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism using ARMS-PCR in 99 schizophrenia outpatients.
• Assessment of interpersonal problem-solving skills using the Assessment of Interpersonal Problem Solving Skills (AIPSS).
• Evaluation of cognitive functions using the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST).

Main Results:

• Patients with the Met/Met genotype showed higher AIPSS scores for problem detection compared to Val/Val (p=0.02).
• The Met allele correlated with enhanced AIPSS-receiving skills (p=0.04).
• The Val allele was associated with increased commission errors on the CPT (p=0.03), indicating poorer attention.

Conclusions:

• The Val allele of the COMT gene may be linked to deficits in identifying interpersonal problems and impaired attention in schizophrenia.
• No significant association was found between the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and WCST performance or clinical symptom severity.