title: Influence of catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met polymorphism on neuropsychological and functional outcomes of classical rehabilitation and cognitive remediation in schizophrenia.
abstract: Neurocognitive deficits are recognized as core features of schizophrenia and have a great impact on functional outcome. Recent reports have suggested that a functional polymorphism, Val158Met, of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, partially influences cognitive performances (mainly cognitive flexibility and working memory) both in schizophrenic patients and in healthy controls, probably by modulating prefrontal dopamine function. While previous studies focused on single evaluation of cognitive functioning, we aimed to analyse the additive effect of COMT genotype and cognitive exercise on dynamic modulation of cognitive performances. We analysed the COMT Val158Met polymorphism in 50 patients with chronic schizophrenia randomly allocated to two treatment conditions for 3 months: standard rehabilitation treatment (SRT) alone and SRT plus specific cognitive exercise of impaired functions. We then divided our sample in four subgroups on the basis of genotype (Val/Val versus Met carriers) and treatment (placebo versus active). We assessed patients with a neuropsychological battery, the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS) and the Quality of Life Scale (QLS) at enrolment, after 3 months of therapy and after further 3 months of follow-up. We found significantly greater improvement of cognitive flexibility performance and QLS total score for Met carriers on active treatment in comparison to Val/Val on placebo. The findings support the hypothesis that COMT polymorphism influences individual capacity to recover from cognitive deficit through rehabilitation therapy after a wider intervention also including deficit-specific cognitive exercise as a potentiating tool.
authors: Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, San Raffaele Universitary Scientific Institute Hospital, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Bosia
authors: Margherita
authors: M
authors: Bechi
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Marino
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Anselmetti
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Poletti
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Cocchi
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Smeraldi
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Cavallaro
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000592:standards; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000235:genetics; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D008715:Methionine; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; D014633:Valine