Study Report

Study Information

Basic Info
Reference |
van Rooij, S. J.,2016 PMID: 27683563
|
Citation |
van Rooij, S. J., et al. (2016). "Childhood Trauma and COMT Genotype Interact to Increase Hippocampal Activation in Resilient Individuals." Front Psychiatry 7: 156. |
Phenotype |
PTSD symptom severity, PTSD intrusive symptoms, PTSD avoidance/numbing symptoms, PTSD hyperarousal symptoms. |
Trauma |
Various |
Study Design |
Cross-sectional study |
Study Type |
Candidate gene association study |
Sample Size |
116 samples |
SNP/Marker Size |
1 SNP |
Predominant Ethnicity |
Black |
Population |
American |
Gender |
0 males, 116 females |
Age |
Val/Val group: mean age=36.4 years,SD=12.7. Met carrier group: mean age=38.6 years,SD=12.0. |

Detail Info
Sample Diagnosis |
DSM-IV |
Related Diagnostic Tools |
Modified PTSD Symptom Scale (PSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Connor-Davidson Resilience scale (CD-RISC) |
Sample Status |
Exclusion criteria: medical or physical conditions that preclude MRI scanning (e.g., metal implants), neurological disorder, history of head injury or loss of consciousness (>5 min), history of a psychotic disorder, and current psychotropic medication. Participants had normal or corrected-to-normal vision. |
Controls Exposed |
NA |
Replication Size |
None |
Result Summary |
Childhood trauma was found to interact with COMT genotype to impact inhibition-related hippocampal activation. In Met carriers, more childhood trauma was associated with decreased hippocampal activation, whereas in the Val/Val group childhood trauma was related to increased hippocampal activation. Second, hippocampal activation correlated negatively with PTSD and depression symptoms and positively with trait resilience. Moreover, hippocampal activation mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and psychiatric risk or resilience in the Val/Val, but not in the Met carrier group. |
Potential Biomarker |
None |

Genetic result reported by this study

Normal genetic result reported by this study (count: 4)
Marker |
Phenotype |
Related Gene |
Statistical Values |
Author Comments |
Marker's Category |
rs4680
|
PTSD hyperarousal symptoms |
COMT |
t(71)=-0.95, P-value=0.35 |
The symptoms didn't differ between different genotypes.
The symptoms didn't differ between different genotypes.
|
Non-significant |
rs4680
|
PTSD symptom severity |
COMT |
t(71)=-0.55, P-value=0.58 |
The symptoms didn't differ between different genotypes.
The symptoms didn't differ between different genotypes.
|
Non-significant |
rs4680
|
PTSD avoidance/numbing symptoms |
COMT |
t(71)=0.22, P-value=0.82 |
The symptoms didn't differ between different genotypes.
The symptoms didn't differ between different genotypes.
|
Non-significant |
rs4680
|
PTSD intrusive symptoms |
COMT |
t(71)=-1.19, P-value=0.24 |
The symptoms didn't differ between different genotypes.
The symptoms didn't differ between different genotypes.
|
Non-significant |