Generic placeholder image

CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1871-5273
ISSN (Online): 1996-3181

The Role of the Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Gene in Personality and Related Psychopathological Disorders

Author(s): Christian Montag, Magdalena Jurkiewicz and Martin Reuter

Volume 11, Issue 3, 2012

Page: [236 - 250] Pages: 15

DOI: 10.2174/187152712800672382

Abstract

This review provides a short overview of the most significant biologically oriented theories of human personality. Personality concepts of Eysenck, Gray and McNaughton, Cloninger and Panksepp will be introduced and the focal evidence for the heritability of personality will be summarized. In this context, a synopsis of a large number of COMT genetic association studies (with a focus on the COMT Val158Met polymorphism) in the framework of the introduced biologically oriented personality theories will be given. In line with the theory of a continuum model between healthy anxious behavior and related psychopathological behavior, the role of the COMT gene in anxiety disorders will be discussed. A final outlook considers new research strategies such as genetic imaging and epigenetics for a better understanding of human personality.

Keywords: COMT Val158Met, personality, genetic imaging, anxiety, anxiety disorders, catechol-o-methyltransferase, dopamine, Eysenck's personality theory, Behavioral Inhibition system, Fight flight freezing system, Panksepp's personality theory


© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy