[Functional polymorphism of genes inactivating catecholamines and emotional deficits in paranoid schizophrenia].

AIM: The aim of our work was to assess qualitatively and quantatively emotional deficits in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia following ICD-10 criteria in early and late stages of the schizophrenic process and the evaluation of the relationship between genes polymorphism of enzymes influencing dopaminergic, serotoninergic, and noradrenergic transfer and emotional functioning of the examined patients.

METHOD: In our study the following methods have been used: Short Recognition Memory test for Faces (TPRT), Facial Expression Recognition Test (FERT), "Reading the mind in the eyes" Test and psychiatric scales (SAPS, SANS, BDI) and molecular techniques (PCR reaction, RFLP and VNTR techniques). 100 paranoid schizophrenia patients (43 female and 57 man) and 50 healthy controls (30 female and 20 man) were invited to participate in the study.

RESULTS

Our results revealed an association between polymorphism of Val158Met COMT and emotional deficits in schizophrenic patients. Furthermore, the relationship between polymorphism of MAO-A and empathy/theory of mind deficit was found. No relationship was elicited between polymorphism of Val158Met COMT and VNTR MAO-A in the promoter area and schizophrenia onset. Allelic distribution of polymorphism of Val158Met COMT and VNTR MAO-A in the promoter area did not differ between the groups. The patients with genotype Val/Val of polymorphism Val158Met COMT showed major emotional deficits. The patients with genotype of 4/4 of polymorphism VNTR MAO-A showed deeper empathy/theory of mind deficits.