A meta-analysis of the Val158Met COMT polymorphism and violent behavior in schizophrenia.
We conducted a meta-analysis of studies examining the association between the Val158Met COMT polymorphism and violence against others in schizophrenia. A systematic search current to November 1, 2011 was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ProQuest, and the National Criminal Justice Reference Service and identified 15 studies comprising 2,370 individuals with schizophrenia for inclusion. Bivariate analyses of study sensitivities and specificities were conducted. This methodology allowed for the calculation of pooled diagnostic odds ratios (DOR). Evidence of a significant association between the presence of a Met allele and violence was found such that men's violence risk increased by approximately 50% for those with at least one Met allele compared with homozygous Val individuals (DOR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.05-2.00; z = 2.37, p = 0.02). No significant association between the presence of a Met allele and violence was found for women or when outcome was restricted to homicide. We conclude that male schizophrenia patients who carry the low activity Met allele in the COMT gene are at a modestly elevated risk of violence. This finding has potential implications for the pharmacogenetics of violent behavior in schizophrenia.
Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America. jaysingh@usf.edu
Jay P
JP
Singh
Jan
J
Volavka
Pál
P
Czobor
Richard A
RA
Van Dorn
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D000483:Alleles; D001519:Behavior; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012372:ROC Curve; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014754:Violence
D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase