Interaction Between Val158Met Catechol‐O‐Methyltransferase Polymorphism and Social Cognitive Functioning in Schizophrenia: Pilot Study

Abstract

The Val158Met catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) functional polymorphism may influence social cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Aspects of social cognition were evaluated with the Facial Expression Recognition Test, the Voice Emotion Recognition Test, and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. The Short Recognition Memory Test for Faces was used as a control measure. The Schedule for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Schedule for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, and Beck Depression Inventory were used to rate of patient symptoms. There were 100 patients with the following genotypes: Val/Val (21), Met/Met (30), and Val/Met (49). The genotype distribution of polymorphism of Val158Met COMT did not differ between the patient and control groups. Schizophrenia carriers of the Val/Val genotype performed worse in social cognitive measures, in comparison with the other groups. No statistically significant correlations were recorded between age at schizophrenia onset and polymorphism of Val158Met COMT. There was an influence of genotype in the control group: the Met homozygotes performing better. Schizophrenia patients homozygous for the Val allele showed significant disadvantages over patients homozygous or heterozygous for the Met allele in social cognitive processes. The COMT genotype may not, however, contribute to the age of onset of schizophrenia.

Social Cognition in a Research Domain Criteria Perspective: A Bridge Between Schizophrenia and Autism Spectra Disorders

“…However, to date the effect of the COMT gene on SC has not been sufficiently investigated in SSD and in ASD. Indeed, to date few, spare and contrasting results are available since COMT gene was investigated primarily in SSD and negative associations often has been provided (150,151).…”

Genetic and clinical features of social cognition in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

“…Babovic et al (2008) showed that COMT regulates working memory, as heterozygous mutant mice for this gene had the worst performances in cognitive tasks such as object recognition. This gene is involved in the regulation of affective states (Smolka et al, 2005) and in emotional face processing as well (Tylec, Jeleniewicz, Mortimer, Bednarska-Makaruk, & Kucharska, 2017), leading to significant behavioral and social consequences (Tunbridge, Harrison, & Weinberger, 2006). Bassett, Caluseriu, Weksberg, Young, and Chow (2007) found that COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism affects dopamine metabolism in the frontal cortex, leading to worst outcomes in trials such as trails and olfactory identification, as well as decreased social cognition in 22q11.2 DS individuals with a Met allele single copy.…”

Vatbaarheid vir skisofrenie by 22q11.2-mikroweglatings

“…Daar is aangetoon dat KOMT werkende geheue reguleer (Babovic et al 2008). Hierdie geen reguleer ook die affektiewe toestand en emosionele gesigprosessering (Smolka et al 2005;Tylec et al 2017).…”