Abstract
The Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene is functional, easily detectable, and significantly related to metabolism of catecholamines.Evidence for the role of this polymorphism in schizophrenia, substance dependence, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia nervosa and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in summed up in this review article. The results make it unlikely that the COMT gene plays an important role in these mental disorders, although a minor effect can not be excluded.
The COMT gene is probably not 'a gene for' any mental disorder, but the Val158Met polymorphism appears to have pleiotropic effects on human behavior.