COMT Val108/158Met gene variant, birth weight, and conduct disorder in children with ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
In a recent study, Thapar and colleagues reported that COMT "gene variant and birth weight predict early-onset antisocial behavior in children" with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We have attempted to replicate these findings in a group of ADHD children using a similar research design.


METHODS
Children (n=191) between 6 and 12 years of age who were diagnosed with ADHD were included in the study. Conduct disorder was diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria based on clinical evaluation and a structured interview (Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV). The mother's report on the child's birth weight was used in the analysis. Logistic regression analysis, with genotype and birth weight as independent variables and DSM-IV conduct disorder as the dependent variable, was conducted.


RESULTS
No significant main effects of genotype and birth weight or interaction effects on conduct disorder were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
In this sample of children diagnosed with ADHD, we find no association between the COMT ValMet gene variant, birth weight, and conduct disorder. Further investigations are required before using birth weight and COMT genotype as predictors of conduct disorder in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, especially given the societal and legal ramifications of conduct disorder.
Sengupta
Sarojini M
SM
Drs. Sengupta, Ben Amor, and Joober are with the Department of Human Genetics, Drs. Grizenko and Joober and Mr. Schwartz are with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Joober and Ms. Thakur are with the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; and Drs. Sengupta, Schmitz, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Bellingham, Ms. de Guzman, Ms. Polotskaia, and Ms. Ter Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Grizenko
Natalie
N
Drs. Sengupta, Ben Amor, and Joober are with the Department of Human Genetics, Drs. Grizenko and Joober and Mr. Schwartz are with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Joober and Ms. Thakur are with the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; and Drs. Sengupta, Schmitz, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Bellingham, Ms. de Guzman, Ms. Polotskaia, and Ms. Ter Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Schmitz
Norbert
N
Drs. Sengupta, Ben Amor, and Joober are with the Department of Human Genetics, Drs. Grizenko and Joober and Mr. Schwartz are with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Joober and Ms. Thakur are with the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; and Drs. Sengupta, Schmitz, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Bellingham, Ms. de Guzman, Ms. Polotskaia, and Ms. Ter Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Schwartz
George
G
Drs. Sengupta, Ben Amor, and Joober are with the Department of Human Genetics, Drs. Grizenko and Joober and Mr. Schwartz are with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Joober and Ms. Thakur are with the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; and Drs. Sengupta, Schmitz, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Bellingham, Ms. de Guzman, Ms. Polotskaia, and Ms. Ter Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Ben Amor
Leila
L
Drs. Sengupta, Ben Amor, and Joober are with the Department of Human Genetics, Drs. Grizenko and Joober and Mr. Schwartz are with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Joober and Ms. Thakur are with the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; and Drs. Sengupta, Schmitz, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Bellingham, Ms. de Guzman, Ms. Polotskaia, and Ms. Ter Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Bellingham
Johanne
J
Drs. Sengupta, Ben Amor, and Joober are with the Department of Human Genetics, Drs. Grizenko and Joober and Mr. Schwartz are with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Joober and Ms. Thakur are with the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; and Drs. Sengupta, Schmitz, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Bellingham, Ms. de Guzman, Ms. Polotskaia, and Ms. Ter Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
DE Guzman
Rosherrie
R
Drs. Sengupta, Ben Amor, and Joober are with the Department of Human Genetics, Drs. Grizenko and Joober and Mr. Schwartz are with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Joober and Ms. Thakur are with the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; and Drs. Sengupta, Schmitz, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Bellingham, Ms. de Guzman, Ms. Polotskaia, and Ms. Ter Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Polotskaia
Anna
A
Drs. Sengupta, Ben Amor, and Joober are with the Department of Human Genetics, Drs. Grizenko and Joober and Mr. Schwartz are with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Joober and Ms. Thakur are with the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; and Drs. Sengupta, Schmitz, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Bellingham, Ms. de Guzman, Ms. Polotskaia, and Ms. Ter Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Ter Stepanian
Marina
M
Drs. Sengupta, Ben Amor, and Joober are with the Department of Human Genetics, Drs. Grizenko and Joober and Mr. Schwartz are with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Joober and Ms. Thakur are with the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; and Drs. Sengupta, Schmitz, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Bellingham, Ms. de Guzman, Ms. Polotskaia, and Ms. Ter Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Thakur
Geeta
G
Drs. Sengupta, Ben Amor, and Joober are with the Department of Human Genetics, Drs. Grizenko and Joober and Mr. Schwartz are with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Joober and Ms. Thakur are with the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; and Drs. Sengupta, Schmitz, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Bellingham, Ms. de Guzman, Ms. Polotskaia, and Ms. Ter Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Joober
Ridha
R
Drs. Sengupta, Ben Amor, and Joober are with the Department of Human Genetics, Drs. Grizenko and Joober and Mr. Schwartz are with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Joober and Ms. Thakur are with the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; and Drs. Sengupta, Schmitz, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Bellingham, Ms. de Guzman, Ms. Polotskaia, and Ms. Ter Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.. Electronic address: ridha.joober@douglas.mcgill.ca.
D001724:Birth Weight / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase