Association between the Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Val(158)Met Polymorphism and Alexithymia in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Yonsei Medical Journal
;
: 721-727, 2016.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-21841
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Alexithymia, defined as a deficit in the ability to recognize and describe one's own feelings, may be related to the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism and alexithymia in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
We recruited 244 patients with OCD (169 males, 75 females). Alexithymia was assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and genotyping of the COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism was evaluated.RESULTS:
Patients with the COMT Val/Val genotype had significantly higher total and "difficulty identifying feelings" (DIF) subdimension scores than those with the Val/Met or Met/Met genotypes. Patients with the COMT Val/Val genotype had significantly higher "difficulty describing feelings" (DDF) subdimension scores than those with the COMT Val/Met genotype. However, there were no differences in the scores for the "externally oriented thinking" (EOT) subdimension among the three genotypes.CONCLUSION:
These results indicate that the high-activity Val allele of the COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism is associated with increased alexithymic traits in patients with OCD. The present finding suggests that alexithymia is an endophenotype of OCD that is mediated by the COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Phenotype
/
Polymorphism, Genetic
/
Catechol O-Methyltransferase
/
Affective Symptoms
/
Alleles
/
Republic of Korea
/
Genotype
/
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Yonsei Medical Journal
Year:
2016
Type:
Article
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