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COMT : A common susceptibility gene in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
Author(s) -
Shifman Sagiv,
Bronstein Michal,
Sternfeld Meira,
Pisanté Anne,
Weizman Avraham,
Reznik Ilya,
Spivak Baruch,
Grisaru Nimrod,
Karp Leon,
Schiffer Richard,
Kotler Moshe,
Strous Rael D.,
SwartzVanetik Marnina,
Knobler Haim Y.,
Shinar Eilat,
Yakir Benjamin,
Zak Naomi B.,
Darvasi Ariel
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part b: neuropsychiatric genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.393
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1552-485X
pISSN - 1552-4841
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.b.30032
Subject(s) - catechol o methyl transferase , bipolar disorder , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychosis , haplotype , allele , psychiatry , genetic association , genetics , medicine , psychology , clinical psychology , gene , single nucleotide polymorphism , genotype , biology , mood
A variety of psychiatric illnesses, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, have been reported in patients with microdeletion on chromosome 22q11—a region which includes the catechol‐O‐methyltransferase ( COMT ) gene. The variety of psychiatric manifestations in patients with the 22q11 microdeletion and the role of COMT in the degradation of catecholamine neurotransmitters may thus suggest a general involvement of the COMT gene in psychiatric diseases. We have previously reported on a significant association between a COMT haplotype and schizophrenia. In this study, we attempt to test for association between bipolar disorder and the polymorphisms implicated in schizophrenia. The association between COMT and bipolar disorder was tested by examining the allele and haplotype found to be associated with schizophrenia. A significant association between bipolar disorder and COMT polymorphisms was found. The estimated relative risk is greater in women, a result consistent with our previous findings in schizophrenia. We suggest that polymorphisms in the COMT gene may influence susceptibility to both diseases—and probably also a wider range of behavioral traits. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.