Testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and cortisol in men with and without alcohol-related aggression.
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.
von der
Pahlen Bettina
PB
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
Sarkola
Taisto
T
Seppa
Kaija
K
Eriksson
C J Peter
CJ
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*
D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone