TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2000//
TI  - Suicidal behavior in patients with schizophrenia is related to COMT polymorphism
JO  - Psychiatric genetics
A1  - Nolan, K. A.
A1  - Volavka, Jan
A1  - Czobor, Pal
A1  - Cseh, A.
A1  - Lachman, H.
A1  - Saito, T.
A1  - Tiihonen, Jari
A1  - Putkonen, A.
A1  - Hallikainen, T.
A1  - Kotilainen, I.
A1  - Räsänen, P.
A1  - Isohanni, M.
A1  - Järvelin, M. R.
A1  - Karvonen, M. K.
SP  - 117
EP  - 124
VL  - 10
IS  - 3
N2  - A common functional polymorphism that results in a three- to four-fold difference in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme activity has been related to psychiatric disorders such as ultra-ultra rapid cycling bipolar disorder, drug abuse and alcoholism (Lachman et al., 1996a; Karayiorgou et al., 1997; Vandenbergh et al., 1997; Papolos et al., 1998; Tiihonen et al., 1999). Several studies have also reported associations between the allele encoding the low enzyme activity COMT variant (L allele) and other-directed aggression (Strous et al., 1997; Lachman et al., 1998; Kotler et al., 1999) in schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients. The current study investigated whether the COMT L allele is also associated with suicide attempts in schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients. COMT genotypes were determined and history of suicide attempts was retrospectively investigated in a Finnish sample (n = 94) and a US sample (n = 54). Significant associations were observed between COMT genotype and suicide; specifically, history of violent suicide attempts. The COMT L allele was more frequent in subjects who had attempted suicide by violent means. These associations were significant in males but not females. These findings support a common neurobiological substrate for self- and other-directed aggression, and suggest that catecholaminergic alterations may contribute to these behaviors in schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0955-8829
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -