title: Testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and cortisol in men with and without alcohol-related aggression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present investigation was designed to study steroid hormones, alcohol and aggression interactions in men with a history of alcohol-related aggression (AGG+) and in a cross-sectional control population (AGG-).
  
  
  METHODS
  AGG+ (n = 40) and AGG- (n = 44) male volunteers completed the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire and the revised Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), after which plasma-free and total testosterone, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and cortisol were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AGG+ men displayed significantly (p < .05) higher aggression and MAST measures compared with the AGG- men; however, no significant group differences were observed regarding the hormone values. Independently of the steroid hormones, MAST correlated positively with the hostility subscale in both AGG- and AGG+ groups. Free and total testosterone correlated positively with anger and DHT correlated positively with verbal aggression and anger, whereas cortisol correlated negatively with physical aggression and anger in the AGG- group. No significant correlations between steroid hormones and aggression parameters were observed in the AGG+ group. The age factor explained part of the MAST and steroid hormone correlations with aggression. A hormone and MAST independent moderation effect of age upon aggression was also found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates an association between alcohol drinking and self-reported sober-state aggression, which implies that the etiology of alcohol misuse and aggressive behavior may involve common biological and/or social factors. These mechanisms, as well as age, androgens and cortisol, all represent factors that, in combination, regulate human aggression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Pahlen Bettina
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: von der
authors.forename: Taisto
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sarkola
authors.forename: Kaija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seppa
authors.forename: C J Peter
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Eriksson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone