Catechol-O-methyltransferase genotype as modifier of superior responses to venlafaxine treatment in major depressive disorder.

Author(s): Hopkins SC(1), Reasner DS, Koblan KS.

Affiliation(s): Author information: (1)Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc, 84 Waterford Dr., Marlborough, MA 01752, USA. seth.hopkins@sunovion.com

Publication date & source: 2013, Psychiatry Res. , 208(3):285-7

Responses to venlafaxine treatment in major depressive disorder were stratified by COMT genotypes (Val158Met, rs4680) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Improvements in depression scores among subjects with Val/Val genotypes were larger than those in Met/Met genotypes, suggesting that venlafaxine may alter noradrenergic flux differentially according to COMT activity.