Catechol‐O‐methyltransferase gene val158met polymorphism and depressive symptoms during early childhood12. Issue 3 (8th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sheikh, Haroon I.; Kryski, Katie R.; Smith, Heather J.; Dougherty, Lea R.; Klein, Daniel N.; Bufferd, Sara J.; Singh, Shiva M.; Hayden, Elizabeth P.
• Is Part Of: American journal of medical genetics. Volume 162:Issue 3(2013)
• Page Start: 245
• Page End: 252
• Publication Date: 2013-03-08
• Subjects: Neuropsychiatry -- Periodicals; Medical genetics -- Periodicals; 616.8904205
• DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32141
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-4841

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Catechol‐<italic>O</italic>‐Methyltransferase (COMT) is a critical regulator of catecholamine levels in the brain. A functional polymorphism of the <italic>COMT</italic> gene, <italic>val</italic>158<italic>met</italic>, has been linked to internalizing symptoms (i.e., depression and anxiety) in adolescents and adults. We extended this research by investigating whether the <italic>val</italic>158met polymorphism was associated with childhood symptoms of depression and anxiety in two independent samples of young children (Ns = 476 and 409). In both samples, preschool‐aged children were genotyped for the <italic>COMT val</italic>158met polymorphism. Symptoms of psychopathology were assessed via parent interviews and primary caregiver reports. In both samples, children homozygous for the <italic>val</italic> allele had higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to children with at least one copy of the <italic>met</italic> allele. Our findings extend previous research in older participants by showing links between the <italic>COMT val</italic>158<italic>met</italic> polymorphism and internalizing symptoms in early childhood. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </abstract>