COMT Val(158)Met genotype and cannabis use in people with an At Risk Mental State for psychosis: Exploring Gene x Environment interactions

Schizophr Res. 2016 Jul;174(1-3):24-28. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2016.03.015. Epub 2016 Apr 1.

Abstract

Background: Epidemiological and retrospective studies suggest a cannabis x catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val(158)Met interaction effect on development of psychosis. The aim of this study was to examine this interaction and its association with severity of subclinical symptoms in people with an At Risk Mental State (ARMS) for psychosis.

Methods: Severity of symptoms, cannabis use and genotype were assessed at baseline in 147 help-seeking young adults who met the ARMS criteria and agreed to participate in the Dutch Early Detection and Intervention (EDIE-NL) trial.

Results: Cannabis use and COMT Val-allele showed an interaction effect in ARMS subjects. Subjects who were weekly cannabis users at some point prior to entering the study showed more severe positive symptoms. This effect increased if they were carriers of the COMT Val-allele and even more so if they were homozygous for the Val-allele.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that the COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism moderates the effect of regular cannabis use on severity of subclinical psychotic symptoms.

Keywords: At Risk Mental State; COMT Val(158)Met; Cannabis; GxE interaction; Psychosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cannabis
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene-Environment Interaction
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Genotype
  • Genotyping Techniques
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marijuana Smoking / genetics*
  • Marijuana Smoking / psychology*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychotic Disorders / complications
  • Psychotic Disorders / genetics*
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • COMT protein, human
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase