title: The relation of serotonin-related gene and COMT gene polymorphisms with criminal behavior in schizophrenic disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been suggested that patients with schizophrenia might be involved in criminal behavior, such as homicidal and violent behavior. However, the relationship between criminal behavior and genes in patients with schizophrenia has not been clearly elucidated. The objective of this study was to examine the relation between criminal behavior and serotonin-related gene or catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphisms in patients with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serotonin-related and COMT polymorphic markers were assessed by using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. Ninety-nine crime-related inpatients with schizophrenia (57 homicidal and 42 nonhomicidal violent) and 133 healthy subjects were enrolled between October 2005 and May 2008. Diagnoses were made according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria. The genotype frequencies of tryptophan hydroxylase-1 (TPH1) A218C and COMT V158M were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TPH1 CC genotype had 2.7-fold higher odds of crime-related schizophrenia compared with A-carrier genotype after the analysis was controlled for sex and age (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.22 - 5.91; P = .01). In addition, the TPH1 CC genotype had 3.4-fold higher odds of homicidal schizophrenia compared with A-carrier genotype after the analysis was controlled for sex and age (OR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.40 - 8.18; P = .007). However, no significant differences were found in the frequencies of genotype of COMT polymorphism between criminal schizophrenics and healthy subjects, nor were any significant differences found between nonhomicidal schizophrenics and healthy subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the TPH1 CC recessive genotype is likely to be a genetic risk factor for criminal behavior, especially homicidal behavior in patients with schizophrenia. However, COMT gene polymorphisms were not associated with criminal behavior in schizophrenic patients.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kbkoh@yuhs.ac
authors: Kyung Bong
authors: KB
authors: Koh
authors: Eun Hee
authors: EH
authors: Choi
authors: Young-joon
authors: YJ
authors: Lee
authors: Mooyoung
authors: M
authors: Han
authors: Sang-Sup
authors: SS
authors: Choi
authors: So Won
authors: SW
authors: Kim
authors: Min Goo
authors: MG
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C497467:TPH1 protein, human; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase