title: The effects of the catechol-O-methyltransferase val158met polymorphism on white matter connectivity in patients with panic disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene val158met polymorphism (rs4680) has been found to be associated with various psychiatric phenotypes including panic disorder. Considering the probable genetic influence of COMT on the pathogenesis of panic disorder and white matter connectivity, the present study investigated white matter connectivity using diffusion tensor imaging in relation to the COMT genotype in panic disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six patients with panic disorder and twenty-six age- and gender-matched healthy controls participated in this study. Brain magnetic resonance scans and genotype analysis for COMT rs4680 were conducted. Panic Disorder Severity Scale, Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire, and Anxiety Sensitivity Inventory-Revised were assessed. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were used for image analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in white matter analysis between panic disorder and healthy controls. However, TBSS analysis showed increased fractional anisotropy (FA) in posterior thalamic radiation, posterior and superior corona radiata, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and sagittal stratum, all located in the right hemisphere in COMT AA/AG genotype group compared to GG genotype in panic disorder. Voxelwise correlational analysis revealed the symptom severity scores are correlated with the FA in white matter tracts that previously showed significant group differences between AA/AG and GG genotypes in COMT AA/AG genotype group, while no significant correlation was found in GG genotype group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sample size in each group was small, hence, further studies with larger numbers of patients are needed to confirm our findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggested that COMT rs4680 could affect the white matter connectivity in panic disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Borah
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eunhye
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Jun-Yeob
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kang Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ah Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Ji Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyubum
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kwack
authors.forename: Ki-Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yook
authors.forename: Tai Kiu
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sang-Hyuk
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase