Exploring the relation between high-activity COMT Val158Met genotype and psychopathy in male offenders

Abstract

COMT genotype might be a risk factor of developing antisocial behavior in individuals with ADHD. However, studies in forensic samples are sparse and contradictory. The current study aimed to investigate if Val homozygosity is associated with ADHD symptoms, psychopathy and cognitive functioning in offenders (n = 184). Psychopathy was measured using the PCL-R and the TriPM. We found no significant differences comparing the study sample with the general population regarding genotype and allelic distribution. Furthermore, when investigating the genotype groups in the study sample, results demonstrated no significant differences regarding psychopathy, ADHD symptoms or cognitive functions. To conclude, the findings did not suggest that psychopathy elucidates the associations of Val homozygosity, ADHD and antisocial behavior. Furthermore, the lack of differences in the allelic or genotype frequencies between the current sample and the general Swedish population supports previous findings that the Val homozygosity it is not overrepresented in criminal offenders.