Catechol-O-methyltransferase polymorphism (COMT) in suicide attempters: A possible gender effect on anger traits

Anger-related personality traits are considered contributory risk factors for suicidal behavior. According to twin studies, they are partially under genetic control and their various clinical expressions have been associated with serotonergic and catecholaminergic activities. A functional polymorphism on the human catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, which codes for the catecholamines inactivating enzyme COMT, has been shown to influence aggressive and anger-related traits in various clinical populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between anger traits (as characterized by the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, STAXI) and COMT Val158Met polymorphism in suicide attempters (n = 427) and control subjects (n = 185). Results showed that the high activity genotype (Val/Val) was more frequent in suicide attempters than in normal controls. Moreover, the Val/Val genotype markedly affected the scores on two STAXI subscales - Trait Anger and Anger Control - in female suicide attempters, thus suggesting a possible gender effect of the COMT genotype on a stable personality trait. These results are discussed in the light of recently published data on the effect of COMT Val158Met polymorphism on different cognitive and behavioral traits.