Interactions Between Early Trauma and Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Genes on Inhibitory Deficits in Children With ADHD

J Atten Disord. 2017 Feb;21(3):183-189. doi: 10.1177/1087054714543650. Epub 2016 Jul 27.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the interaction between childhood trauma exposure with the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) polymorphisms in relation to neuropsychological measures in children with ADHD.

Method: A cross-sectional examination of early traumatic experiences and the continuous performance test (CPT) were performed in 55 children with ADHD. Participants were also genotyped for the DRD4 exon III 48-bp variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism and the COMT Val158-Met (rs4680) polymorphism.

Results: There was significant interaction between the effects of the COMT genotype and trauma in commission errors. In participants with ADHD carrying the COMT Val/Val genotype, the group exposed to trauma showed significantly higher commission errors than the non-traumatized group. However, for the participants with other genotypes, no significant differences were found.

Conclusion: This study suggests that there exists a genetic influence on the association between childhood trauma and the severity of inhibitory deficits in children with ADHD.

Keywords: ADD/ADHD; neuropsychological functioning; trauma.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / enzymology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / genetics*
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase / genetics*
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Exons / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene-Environment Interaction
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological
  • Male
  • Minisatellite Repeats / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D4 / genetics*
  • Stress Disorders, Traumatic / enzymology
  • Stress Disorders, Traumatic / genetics*

Substances

  • DRD4 protein, human
  • Receptors, Dopamine D4
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase