Citation

Wagner S, Baskaya, Anicker N, Dahmen N, Lieb K, Tadić A. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2010; 122(2): 110-117.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1600-0447.2009.01501.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Wagner S, Baskaya Ö, Anicker NJ, Dahmen N, Lieb K, Tadić A. The catechol o‐methyltransferase (COMT) val¹⁵⁸met polymorphism modulates the association of serious life events (SLE) and impulsive aggression in female patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Objective: We analyzed i) the effects of serious life events (SLE) on impulsive aggression, and ii) modulating effects of the COMT Val¹⁵⁸Met polymorphism on the association between SLEs and impulsive aggression in borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Method: One hundred and twelve female BPD patients from Germany were included in this study. Impulsive aggression was assessed by the Buss‐Durkee‐Hostility Inventory (BDHI).

Results: Childhood sexual abuse was associated with lower BDHI sum score (P = 0.003). In COMT Val¹⁵⁸Val carriers, but not in Val/Met and Met/Met carriers, childhood sexual abuse and the cumulative number of SLEs were associated with lower BDHI sum scores (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: This study analyzing a specific gene × environment interaction in female BPD patients suggests an association between SLEs and impulsive aggression, as well as a modulating effect of the COMT Val¹⁵⁸Val genotype on the relation between SLEs and impulsive aggression.