Multicentre Italian family-based association study on tyrosine hydroxylase, catechol-O-methyl transferase and Wolfram syndrome 1 polymorphisms in mood disorders.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate tyrosine hydroxylase, catechol-O-methyl transferase and Wolfram syndrome 1 genes in mood disorders using a family-based association approach.
Methods: The sample included 134 nuclear mood disorder families, with subjects affected by bipolar disorder (n=103) or major depressive disorder (n=58). All subjects were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction techniques.
Results: No significant transmission disequilibrium was found in the overall sample for any polymorphism. Analysis considering bipolar subjects only, or psychopathology traits as affection status did not influence the observed results.
Conclusions: The study could not support the involvement of tyrosine hydroxylase, catechol-O-methyl transferase and Wolfram syndrome 1 polymorphisms in mood disorders.