Depression and anxiety in relation to catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met genotype in the general
June 28th, 2008 | by admin |Depression and anxiety in relation to catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met genotype in the general population: The Nord-TrAndelag Health Study (HUNT).
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene contains a functional polymorphism, Val158Met, which has been linked to anxiety and depression, but no former studies have evaluated the influence of this polymorphism on anxiety and depression measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between Val158Met COMT gene polymorphism and anxiety and depression in the general adult population. METHODS: In the Nord-TrAndelag Health Study (HUNT) the association between Val158Met polymorphism and anxiety and depression was evaluated in a random sample of 5531 individuals. Two different cut off scores (equal or more than 8 and 11) were used to identify cases with anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D), whereas controls had HADS-A <8 and HADS-D <8. RESULTS: The COMT genotype distribution was similar between controls and individuals in the groups with anxiety and depression using cut-off scores of 8 or more. When utilizing the alternative cut-off score HADS-D 11 or more, Met/Met genotype and Met allele were less common among men with depression compared to the controls (genotype: p=0.017, allele: p=0.006). In the multivariate analysis, adjusting for age and heart disease, depression (HADS-D A;311) was less likely among men with Met/Met genotype than among men with Val/Val genotype (OR=0.37, 95% CI=0.18-0.76). CONCLUSION: In this population-based study, no clear association between the Val158Met polymorphism and depression and anxiety was revealed. Met/Met genotype was less likely among men with depression defined as HADS-D 11 or more, but this may be an incidental finding.
Baekken PM, Skorpen F, Stordal E, Zwart JA, Hagen K.