title: Trait aggression and trait impulsivity are not related to frontal cortex 5-HT2A receptor binding in healthy individuals.
abstract: Numerous studies indicate that the serotonergic (5-HT) transmitter system is involved in the regulation of impulsive aggression and there is from post-mortem, in vivo imaging and genetic studies evidence that the 5-HT2A receptor may be involved. We investigated 94 healthy individuals (60 men, mean age 47.0±18.7, range 23-86) to determine if trait aggression and trait impulsivity were related to frontal cortex 5-HT2A receptor binding (5-HT2AR) as measured with [18F]-altanserin PET imaging. Trait aggression and trait impulsivity were assessed with the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 (BIS-11). Statistical analyses were conducted using a multiple linear regression model and internal consistency reliability of the AQ and BIS-11 was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha. Contrary to our hypothesis, results revealed no significant associations between 5-HT2AR and the AQ or BIS-11 total scores. Also, there was no significant interaction between gender and frontal cortex 5-HT2AR in predicting trait aggression and trait impulsivity. This is the first study to examine how 5-HT2AR relates to trait aggression and trait impulsivity in a large sample of healthy individuals. Our findings are not supportive of a selective role for 5-HT2AR in mediating the 5-HT related effects on aggression and impulsivity in psychiatrically healthy individuals.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. sophie.da.cunha@nru.dk
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: da Cunha-Bang
authors.forename: Dea Siggaard
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Stenbæk
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holst
authors.forename: Cecilie Löe
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Licht
authors.forename: Peter Steen
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Vibe Gedsø
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Frokjaer
authors.forename: Erik Lykke
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: Gitte Moos
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Knudsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; C071983:altanserin; D007650:Ketanserin