Impulsivity regulation through COMT Val158Met gene expression in relation to substance abuse, mental health, and risk for adverse life events
Disciplines
Cognitive Psychology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
This study examines the relationship between impulsivity and mental wellbeing. Previous studies have shown that high impulsivity can have drastic social and economic consequences (Schutte et al., 2023). Poor impulse control could enable negative outcomes regarding substance use, financial well-being, and social activities. Additionally, impulsivity is associated with increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (Du et al., 2023). Thus, high impulsivity can increase the likelihood of drug use and traumatic adverse life experiences which in turn would increase rates of stress, anxiety, and depression. Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter involved in impulse control and other important neural functions (Bondrescu et al., 2024). Dopamine reuptake rates may be regulated by the COMT Val158Met rs4680 genotypes (Bondrescu et al., 2024). Given that the COMT genotype may affect a person’s dopamine reuptake rates and impulsivity levels, the COMT genotype is predicted to have a relationship with impulsive decision making and propensity for engaging in high-risk behaviors. Faster dopamine reuptake may leave the brain with lower dopamine levels which may lead some participants to artificially raise dopamine levels through substance use or other negative sensation-seeking behaviors. Participants were given surveys to assess previous adverse life experiences (Life Events Checklist; LEC), substance use (Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test; ASSIST), depression, anxiety, and stress (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; DASS-21). A delay discounting task (millisecond.com) was used to measure impulsive decision making. Participants also provided a saliva sample for DNA extraction, allowing the determination of COMT Val158Met rs4680 genotype expression. Our preliminary analyses (N = 88) show a positive relationship between the number of negative life events (LEC) and substance use as measured by the ASSIST, (r(83) = .35, p = .001). Additionally, a greater number of negative life events (LEC) also suggests higher levels of stress (r(87) = .26, p < .05) and anxiety (r(86) = .26, p < .05) as measured by the DASS-21. We did not find a similar relationship with depression. Although data collection is ongoing and genotypes have not yet been analyzed, we hypothesize that impulsivity will be regulated by COMT gene expressions, and that increased impulsivity would affect participants’ substance abuse rates, mental health, and risk for adverse life events.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - Psychological Science
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Sharon Pearcey
Additional Faculty
Cody Mashburn (cmashb10@kennesaw.edu)
Power Point presentation for the oral presentation
Impulsivity regulation through COMT Val158Met gene expression in relation to substance abuse, mental health, and risk for adverse life events
This study examines the relationship between impulsivity and mental wellbeing. Previous studies have shown that high impulsivity can have drastic social and economic consequences (Schutte et al., 2023). Poor impulse control could enable negative outcomes regarding substance use, financial well-being, and social activities. Additionally, impulsivity is associated with increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (Du et al., 2023). Thus, high impulsivity can increase the likelihood of drug use and traumatic adverse life experiences which in turn would increase rates of stress, anxiety, and depression. Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter involved in impulse control and other important neural functions (Bondrescu et al., 2024). Dopamine reuptake rates may be regulated by the COMT Val158Met rs4680 genotypes (Bondrescu et al., 2024). Given that the COMT genotype may affect a person’s dopamine reuptake rates and impulsivity levels, the COMT genotype is predicted to have a relationship with impulsive decision making and propensity for engaging in high-risk behaviors. Faster dopamine reuptake may leave the brain with lower dopamine levels which may lead some participants to artificially raise dopamine levels through substance use or other negative sensation-seeking behaviors. Participants were given surveys to assess previous adverse life experiences (Life Events Checklist; LEC), substance use (Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test; ASSIST), depression, anxiety, and stress (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; DASS-21). A delay discounting task (millisecond.com) was used to measure impulsive decision making. Participants also provided a saliva sample for DNA extraction, allowing the determination of COMT Val158Met rs4680 genotype expression. Our preliminary analyses (N = 88) show a positive relationship between the number of negative life events (LEC) and substance use as measured by the ASSIST, (r(83) = .35, p = .001). Additionally, a greater number of negative life events (LEC) also suggests higher levels of stress (r(87) = .26, p < .05) and anxiety (r(86) = .26, p < .05) as measured by the DASS-21. We did not find a similar relationship with depression. Although data collection is ongoing and genotypes have not yet been analyzed, we hypothesize that impulsivity will be regulated by COMT gene expressions, and that increased impulsivity would affect participants’ substance abuse rates, mental health, and risk for adverse life events.