title: No association between COMT val158met polymorphism and suicidal behavior: meta-analysis and new data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The polymorphism COMTval158met has been associated with suicidal behavior in case-control and meta-analysis studies, but results and conclusions remain controversial. The objective of this study was to examine the association between COMT val158met with suicidal behavior in a case-control study and to assess the combined evidence -this case-control study and available data from other related studies- we carried out a meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a case-control study with 105 patients with suicide attempts and 236 controls. Subsequently, we performed a meta-analysis of published genetic association studies by searching through Medline, PubMed and Web of Science databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found in the distribution of alleles (χ2 = 0.33, 1 df, p = 0.56) or genotypes (χ2 = 2.36, 2 df, p = 0.26). The meta-analysis comprising 12 association studies (including the present one) showed that the risk COMTmet allele of COMTval158/met is not associated with suicidal behavior (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.97-1.23), even in the absence of heterogeneity (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.97-1.23).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed no association between COMTval158/met and suicidal behavior. However, more studies are necessary to determine conclusively an association between COMT and suicidal behavior.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, División Académica Multidisciplinaria de Comalcalco, Comalcalco, Tabasco, México. alfonso_tovillaz@yahoo.com.mx
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tovilla-Zárate
authors.forename: Isela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Juárez-Rojop
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramón-Frias
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villar-Soto
authors.forename: Sherezada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pool-García
authors.forename: Beatriz Camarena
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Medellín
authors.forename: Alma D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Genis Mendoza
authors.forename: Lilia López
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Narvaez
authors.forename: Nicolini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Humberto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase