The American Journal of Psychiatry
Journal Home Search Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe All APPI Journals Help Contact Us
 
Quicksearch
Advanced Search
Or Search All APPI Journals
This Article
* Full Text
* Full Text (PDF)
* Alert me when this article is cited
* Alert me if a correction is posted
* Citation Map
Services
* Email this article to a Colleague
* Similar articles in this journal
* Similar articles in PubMed
* Alert me to new issues of the journal
* Add to My Articles & Searches
* Download to citation manager
* reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
* Citing Articles via HighWire
* Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
* Articles by Nolan, K. A.
* Articles by Volavka, J.
* Search for Related Content
PubMed
* PubMed Citation
* Articles by Nolan, K. A.
* Articles by Volavka, J.
Related Collections
* Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
* Genetics
Am J Psychiatry 161:359-361, February 2004
© 2004 American Psychiatric Association


Brief Report

Catechol O-Methyltransferase Val158Met Polymorphism in Schizophrenia: Differential Effects of Val and Met Alleles on Cognitive Stability and Flexibility

Karen A. Nolan, Ph.D., Robert M. Bilder, Ph.D., Herbert M. Lachman, M.D., and Jan Volavka, M.D., Ph.D.

OBJECTIVE: The catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism has been associated with cognitive and behavioral phenotypes in schizophrenia. Whether COMT genotype is beneficial may depend on phenotype definition. The authors examined the effects of COMT genotype on a task that distinguishes imitation from reversal learning. They hypothesized that the Val and Met alleles would be associated with deficits in imitation learning and reversal learning, respectively. METHOD: Twenty-six patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder completed a task requiring alternation between imitation and reversal rules. RESULTS: Met homozygotes showed better acquisition of the imitation rule but greater deficit shifting from imitation to reversal. Val homozygotes had poorer imitation performance and slower reaction times. CONCLUSIONS: The Met allele, by increasing tonic dopamine, may promote cognitive stability but limit cognitive flexibility.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Cereb CortexHome page
S. J. Bishop, J. Fossella, C. J. Croucher, and J. Duncan
COMT val158met Genotype Affects Recruitment of Neural Mechanisms Supporting Fluid Intelligence
Cereb Cortex, September 1, 2008; 18(9): 2132 - 2140.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Learn. Mem.Home page
A. B. Hains and A. F.T. Arnsten
Molecular mechanisms of stress-induced prefrontal cortical impairment: Implications for mental illness
Learn. Mem., August 6, 2008; 15(8): 551 - 564.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeuroscientistHome page
R. Cools
Role of Dopamine in the Motivational and Cognitive Control of Behavior
Neuroscientist, August 1, 2008; 14(4): 381 - 395.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
BrainHome page
C. H. Williams-Gray, A. Hampshire, R. A. Barker, and A. M. Owen
Attentional control in Parkinson's disease is dependent on COMT val158met genotype
Brain, February 1, 2008; 131(2): 397 - 408.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurosci.Home page
C. A. Boettiger, J. M. Mitchell, V. C. Tavares, M. Robertson, G. Joslyn, M. D'Esposito, and H. L. Fields
Immediate Reward Bias in Humans: Fronto-Parietal Networks and a Role for the Catechol-O-Methyltransferase 158Val/Val Genotype
J. Neurosci., December 26, 2007; 27(52): 14383 - 14391.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cereb CortexHome page
H.-Y. Tan, J. H. Callicott, and D. R. Weinberger
Dysfunctional and Compensatory Prefrontal Cortical Systems, Genes and the Pathogenesis of Schizophrenia
Cereb Cortex, September 1, 2007; 17(suppl_1): i171 - i181.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
H.-Y. Tan, Q. Chen, S. Sust, J. W. Buckholtz, J. D. Meyers, M. F. Egan, V. S. Mattay, A. Meyer-Lindenberg, D. R. Weinberger, and J. H. Callicott
Epistasis between catechol-O-methyltransferase and type II metabotropic glutamate receptor 3 genes on working memory brain function
PNAS, July 24, 2007; 104(30): 12536 - 12541.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurosci.Home page
C. H. Williams-Gray, A. Hampshire, T. W. Robbins, A. M. Owen, and R. A. Barker
Catechol O-Methyltransferase val158met Genotype Influences Frontoparietal Activity during Planning in Patients with Parkinson's Disease
J. Neurosci., May 2, 2007; 27(18): 4832 - 4838.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum Mol GenetHome page
G. Raux, E. Bumsel, B. Hecketsweiler, T. van Amelsvoort, J. Zinkstok, S. Manouvrier-Hanu, C. Fantini, G.-M. M. Breviere, G. Di Rosa, G. Pustorino, et al.
Involvement of hyperprolinemia in cognitive and psychiatric features of the 22q11 deletion syndrome
Hum. Mol. Genet., January 1, 2007; 16(1): 83 - 91.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch Gen PsychiatryHome page
E. M. Drabant, A. R. Hariri, A. Meyer-Lindenberg, K. E. Munoz, V. S. Mattay, B. S. Kolachana, M. F. Egan, and D. R. Weinberger
Catechol O-methyltransferase Val158Met Genotype and Neural Mechanisms Related to Affective Arousal and Regulation
Arch Gen Psychiatry, December 1, 2006; 63(12): 1396 - 1406.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
N. C. Stefanis, J. van Os, D. Avramopoulos, N. Smyrnis, I. Evdokimidis, and C. N. Stefanis
Effect of COMT Val158Met Polymorphism on the Continuous Performance Test, Identical Pairs Version: Tuning Rather Than Improving Performance
Am J Psychiatry, September 1, 2005; 162(9): 1752 - 1754.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Cogn. Neurosci.Home page
C. M. de Frias, K. Annerbrink, L. Westberg, E. Eriksson, R. Adolfsson, and L.-G. Nilsson
Catechol O-Methyltransferase Val158Met Polymorphism is Associated with Cognitive Performance in Nondemented Adults
J. Cogn. Neurosci., July 1, 2005; 17(7): 1018 - 1025.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2004 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us

American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. American Psychiatric Association
1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1825, Arlington, VA 22209-3901 * 800-368-5777 * appi at psych.org