Catechol O-methyltransferase genetic polymorphism in panic disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined the distribution of catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotypes in patients with panic disorder as well as the relationship between a COMT polymorphism and the clinical characteristics of these patients.


METHODS
Fifty-one patients with panic disorder and 45 healthy comparison subjects were tested for a genetic polymorphism of COMT. Clinical variables were assessed for the patients with panic disorder.


RESULTS
The frequency of the L/L genotype was significantly higher in the patients with panic disorder than in the healthy subjects (19.6% versus 2.2%). Panic disorder was significantly associated with the L allele and L/L genotype. Patients with panic disorder who had the L/L genotype showed poorer treatment response than those with other genotypes.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the L/L genotype of the COMT gene may be related to the development and treatment outcome of panic disorder in some patients.
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase