A possible association between the Val158Met polymorphism of the catechol-O-methyl transferase gene and the personality trait of harm avoidance in Japanese healthy subjects.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an enzyme that degrades various biogenic amines, which have been hypothesized to be associated with personality traits. We investigated a possible relationship between the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and personality traits assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in 139 healthy subjects in a Japanese population. The number of Met alleles of the COMT Val/Met genotype tended to relate to harm avoidance (HA) scores parametrically, while no significant difference was observed between genotype groups in either novelty seeking, reward dependence, persistence, self-directedness, cooperativeness or self-transcendence. These results suggest that the Val/Met polymorphism of the COMT gene may play a role in HA in Japanese population.
Hashimoto
Ryota
R
The Osaka-Hamamatsu Joint Research Center for Child Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan. hashimor@psy.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Noguchi
Hiroko
H
Hori
Hiroaki
H
Ohi
Kazutaka
K
Yasuda
Yuka
Y
Takeda
Masatoshi
M
Kunugi
Hiroshi
H
D000328:Adult; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics*
D008715:Methionine; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; D014633:Valine