Sexually Dimorphic Association of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Functional Polymorphism with Dimensional...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Genetics
• Psychology

Background:

• Personality pathology is influenced by genetic and environmental factors.
• The Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) offers a contemporary framework for classifying personality pathology.
• The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism affects dopamine and norepinephrine metabolism, particularly in the prefrontal cortex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between COMT Val158Met genotypes and personality traits within the AMPD framework.
• To determine if genetic variations in COMT influence specific personality pathology domains and traits.
• To explore potential sex differences in the relationship between COMT genotype and personality pathology.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Personality Inventory for DSM-V (PID-5) to assess personality traits.
• Employed the Genomind platform to determine COMT Val158Met genotypes in 84 psychiatric outpatients.
• Analyzed differences in AMPD Criterion B personality domains and traits across COMT genotypes, examining gene-sex interactions.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in one AMPD personality domain (negative affect) and three traits were observed across COMT genotypes.
• Met/Met carriers showed higher pathological scores for negative affect, perceptual dysregulation, and separation insecurity.
• Val/Val carriers exhibited higher scores for restricted affectivity. The association was sexually dimorphic, with significant differences in males but not females.
• Gene-sex interactions substantially improved regression models, particularly for psychoticism.

Conclusions:

• The COMT Val158Met polymorphism shows a preliminary association with personality pathology as defined by the AMPD.
• This genetic link to personality pathology appears to be sexually dimorphic.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the complex interplay between COMT genetics, sex, and personality pathology.