title: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder phenotype is influenced by a functional catechol-O-methyltransferase variant.
abstract: The catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) plays a crucial role in the metabolism of catecholamines in the frontal cortex. A single nucleotide polymorphism (Val(158)Met SNP, rs4680) leads to either methionine (Met) or valine (Val) at codon 158, resulting in a three- to fourfold reduction in COMT activity. The aim of the present study was to assess the COMT Val(158)Met SNP as a risk factor for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ADHD symptom severity and co-morbid conduct disorder (CD) in 166 children with ADHD. The main finding of the present study is that the Met allele of the COMT Val(158)Met SNP was associated with ADHD and increased ADHD symptom severity. No association with co-morbid CD was observed. In addition, ADHD symptom severity and early adverse familial environment were positive predictors of lifetime CD. These findings support previous results implicating COMT in ADHD symptom severity and early adverse familial environment as risk factors for co-morbid CD, emphasizing the need for early intervention to prevent aggressive and maladaptive behavior progressing into CD, reducing the overall severity of the disease burden in children with ADHD.
authors: Department of Neurobehavioral Genetics, Institute of Psychobiology, University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
authors: Haukur
authors: H
authors: Pálmason
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Moser
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Sigmund
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Vogler
authors: Susann
authors: S
authors: Hänig
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Schneider
authors: Christiane
authors: C
authors: Seitz
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Marcus
authors: Jobst
authors: J
authors: Meyer
authors: Christine M
authors: CM
authors: Freitag
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D004777:Environment; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase