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The catechol-O-methyltransferase Val(108/158)Met polymorphism affects antidepressant response to paroxetine in a naturalistic setting

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Abstract

Rationale

The noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems are targets for antidepressants and are stimulated by serotonergic antidepressant drugs. The COMT enzyme inactivates catecholamines, and the COMT Val(108/158)Met polymorphism (rs4680) influences the enzyme activity. Clinical studies on the effect of rs4680 on antidepressant response gave contrasting results.

Objectives

We studied the effect of rs4680 on response to paroxetine antidepressant monotherapy at doses administered upon clinical need.

Materials and methods

Fifty-five consecutively referred outpatients affected by a major depressive episode without psychotic features in course of major depressive disorder were administered paroxetine at a mean daily dose of 31.64 mg for 1 month. Changes in severity of depression were assessed with weekly Hamilton depression ratings and analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance in the context of general linear model, taking into account potential confounding variables (age, sex, number of previous illness episodes, duration of current episode and paroxetine daily dose).

Results

rs4680 significantly interacted with time in affecting antidepressant response to paroxetine, with outcome being inversely proportional to the enzyme activity: better effects in Met/Met homozygotes, worse effects in Val/Val homozygotes and intermediate effects in heterozygotes. The effect became significant at the third week of treatment. Paroxetine daily dose was proportional to baseline severity, but did not influence outcome.

Conclusions

This is the first study that reports a positive effect of rs4680 on response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors monotherapy in a Caucasian sample. Our findings support the hypothesis that factors affecting catecholaminergic neurotransmission might contribute to shape the individual response to antidepressants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    Francesco Benedetti, Cristina Colombo, Adele Pirovano, Elena Marino & Enrico Smeraldi

  2. National Institute of Neurosciences URL: www.ist-nazionale-neuroscienze.unito.it

    Francesco Benedetti, Cristina Colombo, Adele Pirovano, Elena Marino & Enrico Smeraldi

  3. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Istituto Scientifico Ospedale San Raffaele, San Raffaele Turro, Via Stamira d’Ancona 20, Milan, Italy

    Francesco Benedetti

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  1. Francesco Benedetti
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  2. Cristina Colombo
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  3. Adele Pirovano
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  4. Elena Marino
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  5. Enrico Smeraldi
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Correspondence to Francesco Benedetti.

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Benedetti, F., Colombo, C., Pirovano, A. et al. The catechol-O-methyltransferase Val(108/158)Met polymorphism affects antidepressant response to paroxetine in a naturalistic setting. Psychopharmacology 203, 155–160 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-008-1381-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-008-1381-7

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