title: A Putative Association of COMT Val(108/158)Met with Impulsivity in Binge Eating Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the influence of the COMT Val(108/158)Met polymorphism on trait and behavioural impulsivity in binge eating disorder (BED). COMT Val(108/158)Met has been related to impulsivity in previous studies, but so far no study has investigated the role of this polymorphism in the context of BED.
  
  
  METHODS
  Impulsivity was assessed via a questionnaire (trait) and on a behavioural level via the antisaccade task in a sample of 69 participants classified into one out of three age-matched groups: (1) obese individuals with BED according to DMS-IV (BED+); (2) obese individuals without BED, matched with the BED+ sample according to body weight (OBED-); and (3) normal-weight healthy controls (NWC). The COMT Val(108/158)Met polymorphism was genotyped in all samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As expected, the BED+ sample showed higher trait and behavioural impulsivity. Furthermore, within the BED+ group, COMT Met/Met homozygous individuals showed stronger deficits in inhibitory control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COMT Met/Met homozygous individuals with BED might represent a specific group in the BED spectrum, which shows a higher behavioural impulsivity. The association between COMT Val(108/158)Met with inhibitory control should be interpreted with caution because of the small sample size. Larger replication studies are needed to further elucidate the role of the COMT Val(108/158)Met polymorphism in the regulation of disordered eating behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Elisabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Leehr
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schag
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brückmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plewnia
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zipfel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nieratschker
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.|Department of Medicine and Psychosomatics, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Giel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase
keywords: binge eating disorder; genetics; obesity