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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder phenotype is influenced by a functional catechol-O-methyltransferase variant

Pálmason, Haukur and Moser, Dirk and Sigmund, Jessica and Vogler, Christian and Hänig, Susann and Schneider, Anna and Seitz, Christiane and Marcus, Alexander and Meyer, Jobst and Freitag, Christine M.. (2010) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder phenotype is influenced by a functional catechol-O-methyltransferase variant. Journal of neural transmission : journal of the International Society for Neurovegetative Research, Vol. 117, H. 2. pp. 259-267.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A5841738

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Abstract

The catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) plays a crucial role in the metabolism of catecholamines in the frontal cortex. A single nucleotide polymorphism (Val(158)Met SNP, rs4680) leads to either methionine (Met) or valine (Val) at codon 158, resulting in a three- to fourfold reduction in COMT activity. The aim of the present study was to assess the COMT Val(158)Met SNP as a risk factor for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ADHD symptom severity and co-morbid conduct disorder (CD) in 166 children with ADHD. The main finding of the present study is that the Met allele of the COMT Val(158)Met SNP was associated with ADHD and increased ADHD symptom severity. No association with co-morbid CD was observed. In addition, ADHD symptom severity and early adverse familial environment were positive predictors of lifetime CD. These findings support previous results implicating COMT in ADHD symptom severity and early adverse familial environment as risk factors for co-morbid CD, emphasizing the need for early intervention to prevent aggressive and maladaptive behavior progressing into CD, reducing the overall severity of the disease burden in children with ADHD.
Faculties and Departments:07 Faculty of Psychology > Departement Psychologie > Ehemalige Einheiten Psychologie > Molecular Neuroscience (Papassotiropoulos)
UniBasel Contributors:Vogler, Christian
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:0300-9564
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
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Last Modified:14 Sep 2012 07:20
Deposited On:14 Sep 2012 07:04

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