COMT Associations with Disordered Gambling and Drinking Measures

J Gambl Stud. 2015 Jun;31(2):513-24. doi: 10.1007/s10899-013-9434-1.

Abstract

Disordered gambling and alcohol dependence are influenced by unique and shared genetic factors. Although the evidence is mixed, some research has linked catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) rs4680 (or COMT Val158Met) to the development of gambling or drinking problems; however, no molecular genetic study has jointly examined gambling and drinking problems. Furthermore, the majority of past studies examined gambling or drinking problems using a case-control design. The purpose of the current study was to examine associations of COMT rs4680 with dimensionally and categorically measured gambling and drinking problems in a nonclinical sample (139 Caucasian adults). The current study found that COMT rs4680 was related to both dimensionally and categorically measured gambling and drinking problems. It appears that the COMT Met/Met genotype may be a genetic risk factor that contributes to the development of both gambling and drinking problems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / genetics*
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gambling / genetics*
  • Gambling / psychology
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motivation / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
  • White People / genetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase