The catechol o-methyltransferase (COMT) val(158)met polymorphism modulates the association of serious life events (SLE) and impulsive aggression in female patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD).
OBJECTIVE
We analyzed i) the effects of serious life events (SLE) on impulsive aggression, and ii) modulating effects of the COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism on the association between SLEs and impulsive aggression in borderline personality disorder (BPD).


METHODS
One hundred and twelve female BPD patients from Germany were included in this study. Impulsive aggression was assessed by the Buss-Durkee-Hostility Inventory (BDHI).


RESULTS
Childhood sexual abuse was associated with lower BDHI sum score (P = 0.003). In COMT Val(158)Val carriers, but not in Val/Met and Met/Met carriers, childhood sexual abuse and the cumulative number of SLEs were associated with lower BDHI sum scores (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study analyzing a specific gene x environment interaction in female BPD patients suggests an association between SLEs and impulsive aggression, as well as a modulating effect of the COMT Val(158)Val genotype on the relation between SLEs and impulsive aggression.
Wagner
S
S
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, Germany. stefwagn@uni-mainz.de
Baskaya
O
O
Anicker
N J
NJ
Dahmen
N
N
Lieb
K
K
Tadić
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000483:Alleles; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D008016:Life Change Events; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012931:Social Environment; D055815:Young Adult
D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase