title: Variation in the catechol-O-methyltransferase Val 158 Met polymorphism associated with conduct disorder and ADHD symptoms, among adolescent male delinquents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Variation in the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) has been associated with antisocial behavior in populations with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study examined whether COMT would predict antisocial behavior in a sample with high levels of behavior problems, not necessarily ADHD. In addition, because previous research suggests that COMT may be associated with ADHD in males, association between COMT and ADHD symptoms was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study tested whether variation in three polymorphisms of the COMT gene was predictive of symptoms of conduct disorder and ADHD, in a sample of 174 incarcerated Russian adolescent male delinquents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Val allele of the ValMet polymorphism was significantly associated with conduct disorder diagnosis and symptoms, whereas the Met allele was associated with ADHD symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ValMet polymorphism of the COMT gene shows a complex relation to behavior problems, influencing conduct disorder and ADHD symptoms in opposite directions in a high-risk population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Colin G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: DeYoung
authors.forename: Marya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Getchell
authors.forename: Roman A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Koposov
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Yrigollen
authors.forename: Gerald J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Haeffel
authors.forename: Britt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: af Klinteberg
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oreland
authors.forename: Vladislav V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Ruchkin
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pakstis
authors.forename: Elena L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Grigorenko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000235:genetics*; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase