Koen, L.Kinnear, C.J.Corfield, V.A.Emsley, R.A.Jordaan, E.Keyter, N.Moolman-smook, J.C.Stein, D.J.Niehaus, D.J.H.2020-07-202020-07-202004KOEN L, KINNEAR CJ, CORFIELD VA, EMSLEY RA, JORDAAN E, KEYTER N, et al. Violence in male patients with schizophrenia: risk markers in a South African population. Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry0004-8674.https://infospace.mrc.ac.za/handle/11288/595273Objective: We investigate the role of functional variants in the catecholamine-O-methyl transferase gene (COMT) and the monoamine oxidase-A gene (MOA-A), as well as previously identified non-genetic risk factors in the manifestation of violent behaviour in South African male schizophrenia patients. Method: A cohort of 70 acutely relapsed male schizophrenia patients was stratified into violent and non-violent subsets, based on the presence or absence of previous or current violent behaviour. Standardized violence rating scales were also applied and the COMT/NlaIII and MAO-A promoter region variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphisms were genotyped. Results: A multiple logistic regression model based on the clinical, genetic and sociodemographic variables indicated that delusions of control (OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.21–11.61) and the combined use of cannabis and alcohol (OR = 6.89, 95% CI = 1.28–37.05) were two significant predictors of violent behaviour in this schizophrenia population. No association was found between the tested polymorphisms and violent behaviour. Conclusions: Although the sample size may have limited power to exclude a minor role for these specific gene variants, such a small contribution would have limited clinical relevance given the strong significance of the non-genetic markers. These findings suggest that currently proactive management of violent behaviour in this schizophrenia population should continue to be based on clinical predictors of violence.enAttribution 3.0 United Stateshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/ClinicalGeneticsSchizophreniaViolenceArticleAustralian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry