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    Neurosci Lett. 2011 May 9;495(1):17-21. Epub 2011 Mar 21.

    Effect of COMT genotype on aggressive behaviour in a community cohort of schizophrenic patients.

    Source

    Section of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University of Verona, Italy. sarah.tosato@univr.it

    Abstract

    Although the etiology of aggression is multifactorial, many studies have associated the Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT with aggression in schizophrenia. This study tests the hypothesis that Met/Met patients display more episodes of aggression and violent behaviour than Val/Val patients in a 6 year follow-up cohort of subjects with schizophrenia in contact with the South-Verona Community-based Mental Health Service. Out of the 141 subjects with an ICD-10 SCAN-confirmed diagnosis of schizophrenia, 115 completed both baseline and follow-up assessments (81.6% of the baseline cohort). Of these, 80 subjects (70%) were genotyped and rated for aggression using the Overt Aggression Scale. Met/Met homozygous patients had higher aggressive behaviour compared to Val/Val homozygous subjects. Antipsychotic dosage, alcohol and drug abuse were taken into account as confounders. The Met/Met genotype of COMT may have an effect on aggressive behaviour in schizophrenia because norepinephrine is less effectively inactivated.

    Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

    PMID:
    21402125
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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