Acute effects of baclofen, a gamma-aminobutyric acid-B agonist, on laboratory measures of aggressive and escape responses of adult male parolees with and without a history of conduct disorder.
BACKGROUND
The possible role of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in human aggression was evaluated by administering baclofen, a GABA-B agonist and comparing the effects on laboratory measures of aggression and escape among subjects with and without a history of conduct disorder.


METHODS
Twenty male subjects with a history of criminal behavior participated in experimental sessions, which measured aggressive and escape responses. Ten subjects had a history of childhood conduct disorder (CD+) and ten control subjects had no history of CD. Aggression was measured using the point subtraction aggression paradigm (PSAP), which provides subjects with aggressive, escape, and monetary-reinforced response options.


RESULTS
Acute doses (0.07, 0.14 and 0.28 mg/kg) of baclofen had remarkably different effects on aggressive responses among CD+ subjects relative to control subjects. Aggressive responses of CD+ subjects decreased, while aggressive responses of control subjects increased following baclofen administration. Baclofen decreased escape responses for both CD+ and control subjects. No changes in monetary-reinforced responses were observed, indicative of no central nervous system stimulation or sedation.


CONCLUSIONS
The GABA-B agonist baclofen suppressed aggressive responses in subjects with a history of childhood CD, while producing the opposite effect in control subjects. These suggest a possible unique role for GABA in the regulation of aggression in CD+ population.
Cherek
Don R
DR
Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, 1300 Moursund Street, Houston, TX 77030-3497, USA. don.r.cherek@uth.tmc.edu
Lane
Scott D
SD
Pietras
Cynthia J
CJ
Sharon
Jennifer
J
Steinberg
Joel L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D010556:Personality Tests; D011329:Prisoners; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018755:GABA Agonists; D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists; D001418:Baclofen