Suicidal behavior in patients with schizophrenia is related to COMT polymorphism.
A common functional polymorphism that results in a three- to four-fold difference in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme activity has been related to psychiatric disorders such as ultra-ultra rapid cycling bipolar disorder, drug abuse and alcoholism (Lachman et al., 1996a; Karayiorgou et al., 1997; Vandenbergh et al., 1997; Papolos et al., 1998; Tiihonen et al., 1999). Several studies have also reported associations between the allele encoding the low enzyme activity COMT variant (L allele) and other-directed aggression (Strous et al., 1997; Lachman et al., 1998; Kotler et al., 1999) in schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients. The current study investigated whether the COMT L allele is also associated with suicide attempts in schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients. COMT genotypes were determined and history of suicide attempts was retrospectively investigated in a Finnish sample (n = 94) and a US sample (n = 54). Significant associations were observed between COMT genotype and suicide; specifically, history of violent suicide attempts. The COMT L allele was more frequent in subjects who had attempted suicide by violent means. These associations were significant in males but not females. These findings support a common neurobiological substrate for self- and other-directed aggression, and suggest that catecholaminergic alterations may contribute to these behaviors in schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients.
Nolan
K A
KA
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York 10962, USA. nolan@nki.rfmh.org
Volavka
J
J
Czobor
P
P
Cseh
A
A
Lachman
H
H
Saito
T
T
Tiihonen
J
J
Putkonen
A
A
Hallikainen
T
T
Kotilainen
I
I
Räsänen
P
P
Isohanni
M
M
Järvelin
M R
MR
Karvonen
M K
MK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase