The current study investigated whether the COMT gene associated with violent offences, suicide attempters and schizophrenia. 236 schizophrenic patients, 182 violent offenders, 182 suicide attempters and 203 healthy volunteers were included in the study. COMT genotypes were determined using PCR and subsequent enzyme digestion.

We suggest that the COMT*H/*H genotype is a marker of increased risk for schizophrenia (OR=2.56, 95%CI 1.60-4.12), both out-directed (OR=1.84, 95%CI 1.08-3.16) and in-directed aggressive behavior (OR=2.28, 95%CI 1.39-3.77). So, catecholaminergic alterations may contribute to these behaviors independently from such psychiatric disorder as schizophrenia.