The association of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) rs4680 polymorphisms and generalized anxiety disorder in the Chinese Han population.

ABSTRACT: The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism has been reported to be implicated in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as well as the treatment response to antidepressants in patients with GAD, but the findings are inconsistent. In this study, we explore the association among COMT, GAD, and the antidepressant response in the Chinese Han population. One hundred and two patients with GAD and 120 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. All the patients were treated with escitalopram or venlafaxine for 8 weeks. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAMA) was used to assess the treatment response. All the participants were genotyped for the COMT Val158Met polymorphism using the polymerase chain reaction method. No significant differences in the frequency of the COMT rs4680 polymorphism were found between the GAD and HC groups, or between patients with different genders. Further, we found no significant correlation between the COMT rs4680 polymorphism, gender, and the antidepressant treatment outcomes after eight weeks in the GAD patients. This study indicated that the COMT rs4680 genotype might not be related to GAD or to the genders of the GAD patients, nor did it have any effect on the antidepressant therapeutic response in the GAD patients. Even so, our research will be helpful by providing guidance and direction for future, more in depth, research.

SUBMITTER: He Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7414458 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature