Project Summary

Karen A. Nolan, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2003) of Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. at the Nathan Kline Institute, will examine the relationship between aggression, cognitive performance, and psychopathology to activity of the enzyme catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT).  COMT is one of the main enzymes in dopamine metabolism, and previous work suggests that a specific mutation in COMT is associated with increased aggression and more severe symptoms, but with better cognitive performance.  This will be the first study to examine the relation of COMT with all of these behaviors in the same subjects.  This work might help define the types of behaviors and symptoms that are most relevant to the COMT mutation and clarify its significance in schizophrenia.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

Search Again