Serotonin, testosterone and alcohol in the etiology of domestic violence.
In a previous study we administered the panicogenic agent sodium lactate to a select group of perpetrators of domestic violence and comparison groups. Results of that study showed that perpetrators exhibited exaggerated lactate-induced fear, panic and rage. In this current study, we compared the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and testosterone obtained from perpetrators of domestic violence and a group of healthy comparison subjects. All subjects were assessed for DSM-III-R diagnoses. Perpetrators with alcohol dependence (DV-ALC) (n=13), perpetrators without alcohol dependence (DV-NALC) (n=10) and healthy comparison subjects (HCS) (n=20) were clinically assessed using the Spielberger Trait Anxiety, Brown-Goodwin Aggression Scale, Buss Durkee Hostility Inventory and Straus Conflict Tactics. Following an overnight fast and bed rest, subjects received a lumbar puncture to obtain CSF concentrations of 5-HIAA and testosterone. Perpetrators scored significantly higher on measures of aggression than HCS. DV-NALC had significantly lower concentrations of CSF 5-HIAA and higher Straus Conflict Tactics (CT) physical violence scores than DV-ALC and HCS. DV-ALC had significantly higher concentrations of CSF testosterone than DV-NALC. DV-ALC also had significantly higher Straus CT physical violence scores than HCS. DV-NALC and DV-ALC differed on 5-HIAA concentrations, testosterone concentrations, Straus CT physical violence scores and alcohol dependence. These results suggest that DV-NALC and DV-ALC groups could have different biological mechanisms mediating domestic violence.
George
D T
DT
Laboratory of Clinical Studies, DICBR, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. tedg@niaaa.nih.gov
Umhau
J C
JC
Phillips
M J
MJ
Emmela
D
D
Ragan
P W
PW
Shoaf
S E
SE
Rawlings
R R
RR
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011889:Rage / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D012701:Serotonin; D013739:Testosterone; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid