COMT val158met polymorphism links to altered fear conditioning and extinction are modulated by PTSD and childhood trauma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is thought to be mediated by gene × environment (G × E) interactions that affect core cognitive processes such as fear learning. The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) val158met polymorphism has been associated with risk for PTSD and impaired fear inhibition. We used a large, relatively homogenous population to (1) replicate previous findings of poor fear inhibition in COMT Met/Met carriers with PTSD; (2) determine if COMT association with fear inhibition is moderated by childhood trauma (CT), an environmental risk factor for PTSD; and (3) determine if COMT is associated with altered fear processes after recent exposure to combat trauma.

Methods

Male Marines and Navy Corpsmen of European-American ancestry were assesse

SUBMITTER: Deslauriers J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5760328 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature