Association of Lower COMT Activity Alleles with Aggressive Traits in Male Youth with Conduct Disorder Living in a Correctional Facility

Aggression constitutes a significant behavioral issue associated with delinquent behavior, commonly observed in youth diagnosed with conduct disorder (CD) and living in correctional facilities. Catechol-o-methyl-transferase <i>(COMT)</i> gene variants modify the environmental sensitivity...

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Main Authors: Lucija Tudor, Josip Podobnik, Gordana Nedic Erjavec, Matea Nikolac Perkovic, Jaanus Harro, Margus Kanarik, Darko Marcinko, Dubravka Svob Strac, Melita Cusek, Vlatka Kovac, Nela Pivac
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Biomolecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/554
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author Lucija Tudor
Josip Podobnik
Gordana Nedic Erjavec
Matea Nikolac Perkovic
Jaanus Harro
Margus Kanarik
Darko Marcinko
Dubravka Svob Strac
Melita Cusek
Vlatka Kovac
Nela Pivac
author_facet Lucija Tudor
Josip Podobnik
Gordana Nedic Erjavec
Matea Nikolac Perkovic
Jaanus Harro
Margus Kanarik
Darko Marcinko
Dubravka Svob Strac
Melita Cusek
Vlatka Kovac
Nela Pivac
author_sort Lucija Tudor
collection DOAJ
description Aggression constitutes a significant behavioral issue associated with delinquent behavior, commonly observed in youth diagnosed with conduct disorder (CD) and living in correctional facilities. Catechol-o-methyl-transferase <i>(COMT)</i> gene variants modify the environmental sensitivity associated with the risk of aggression. This study evaluated the association of <i>COMT</i> rs4680 and rs4818 polymorphisms with aggressive behavior in 341 male adolescents living inside and outside a correctional facility, with or without a diagnosis of CD. Aggression was assessed using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL-YV), Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) and Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Questionnaire. <i>COMT</i> rs4680 and rs4818 polymorphisms were genotyped using TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays. A similar prevalence of the <i>COMT</i> genotypes or haplotypes was found between adolescents with or without CD, suicidal behavior, or detention in correctional facility. In youth with CD, the <i>COMT</i> rs4680 A allele was associated with higher MOAS verbal aggression, aggression toward objects, irritability (subjective and open), and PCL-YV interpersonal domain scores compared with carriers of the <i>COMT</i> rs4680 G allele. <i>COMT</i> rs4818 GC carriers with CD had higher scores on the MOAS subjective irritability than GG heterozygotes. These novel findings revealed the association of lower <i>COMT</i> rs4680 and rs4818 activity alleles with aggression in detained male adolescents with CD.
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spelling doaj-art-5cfae68dfed849c7a2d60ce9f8ddba6a2025-08-20T03:14:17ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2025-04-0115455410.3390/biom15040554Association of Lower COMT Activity Alleles with Aggressive Traits in Male Youth with Conduct Disorder Living in a Correctional FacilityLucija Tudor0Josip Podobnik1Gordana Nedic Erjavec2Matea Nikolac Perkovic3Jaanus Harro4Margus Kanarik5Darko Marcinko6Dubravka Svob Strac7Melita Cusek8Vlatka Kovac9Nela Pivac10Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Youth Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaRudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaRudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaNeuropsychopharmacology, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, EstoniaNeuropsychopharmacology, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, EstoniaDepartment of Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaRudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaJuvenile Correctional Facility Ivanec, 42240 Ivanec, CroatiaDepartment for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaRudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaAggression constitutes a significant behavioral issue associated with delinquent behavior, commonly observed in youth diagnosed with conduct disorder (CD) and living in correctional facilities. Catechol-o-methyl-transferase <i>(COMT)</i> gene variants modify the environmental sensitivity associated with the risk of aggression. This study evaluated the association of <i>COMT</i> rs4680 and rs4818 polymorphisms with aggressive behavior in 341 male adolescents living inside and outside a correctional facility, with or without a diagnosis of CD. Aggression was assessed using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL-YV), Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) and Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Questionnaire. <i>COMT</i> rs4680 and rs4818 polymorphisms were genotyped using TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays. A similar prevalence of the <i>COMT</i> genotypes or haplotypes was found between adolescents with or without CD, suicidal behavior, or detention in correctional facility. In youth with CD, the <i>COMT</i> rs4680 A allele was associated with higher MOAS verbal aggression, aggression toward objects, irritability (subjective and open), and PCL-YV interpersonal domain scores compared with carriers of the <i>COMT</i> rs4680 G allele. <i>COMT</i> rs4818 GC carriers with CD had higher scores on the MOAS subjective irritability than GG heterozygotes. These novel findings revealed the association of lower <i>COMT</i> rs4680 and rs4818 activity alleles with aggression in detained male adolescents with CD.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/554aggressionassociationconduct disordercorrectional facility<i>COMT</i> rs4680 and rs4818 polymorphismsgenetic variants
spellingShingle Lucija Tudor
Josip Podobnik
Gordana Nedic Erjavec
Matea Nikolac Perkovic
Jaanus Harro
Margus Kanarik
Darko Marcinko
Dubravka Svob Strac
Melita Cusek
Vlatka Kovac
Nela Pivac
Association of Lower COMT Activity Alleles with Aggressive Traits in Male Youth with Conduct Disorder Living in a Correctional Facility
Biomolecules
aggression
association
conduct disorder
correctional facility
<i>COMT</i> rs4680 and rs4818 polymorphisms
genetic variants
title Association of Lower COMT Activity Alleles with Aggressive Traits in Male Youth with Conduct Disorder Living in a Correctional Facility
title_full Association of Lower COMT Activity Alleles with Aggressive Traits in Male Youth with Conduct Disorder Living in a Correctional Facility
title_fullStr Association of Lower COMT Activity Alleles with Aggressive Traits in Male Youth with Conduct Disorder Living in a Correctional Facility
title_full_unstemmed Association of Lower COMT Activity Alleles with Aggressive Traits in Male Youth with Conduct Disorder Living in a Correctional Facility
title_short Association of Lower COMT Activity Alleles with Aggressive Traits in Male Youth with Conduct Disorder Living in a Correctional Facility
title_sort association of lower comt activity alleles with aggressive traits in male youth with conduct disorder living in a correctional facility
topic aggression
association
conduct disorder
correctional facility
<i>COMT</i> rs4680 and rs4818 polymorphisms
genetic variants
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/554
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