Serotonin 1B Receptor Binding Is Associated With Trait Anger and Level of Psychopathy in Violent Offenders.
The involvement of serotonin in aggression has traditionally been attributed to impaired prefrontal serotonergic inhibitory control of emotional reactions to provocations in antisocial individuals. However, it is unclear which specific serotonergic receptors are involved in the effects. A large body of preclinical research supports a specific role of serotonin 1B receptors (5-HT1BRs) in aggression and impulsivity, but this has never been evaluated in humans.



Nineteen incarcerated violent offenders and 24 healthy control nonoffenders were included and examined with positron emission tomography, using the radioligand [11C]AZ10419369 for quantification of cerebral 5-HT1BR binding in three regions of interest: the anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and striatum.



Group status significantly moderated the association between striatal 5-HT1BRs and trait anger (difference in slopes, pcorrected= .04). In the violent offender group, striatal 5-HT1BR binding was positively correlated with self-reported trait anger (p = .0004), trait psychopathy (p = .008), and level of psychopathy according to the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (p = .02). We found no group differences in 5-HT1BR binding.



Our data demonstrate for the first time in humans a specific involvement of 5-HT1BR binding in anger and psychopathy. 5-HT1BRs putatively represent a molecular target for development of pharmacologic antiaggressive treatments.
Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen.
Sofi
S
da Cunha-Bang
Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen.
Liv Vadskjaer
LV
Hjordt
Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen.
Erik
E
Perfalk
Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen.
Vincent
V
Beliveau
Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet; The Danish Prison and Probation Service, Institution of Herstedvester, Herstedvester.
Camilla
C
Bock
PET and Cyclotron Unit, Rigshospitalet.
Szabolcs
S
Lehel
Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet.
Carsten
C
Thomsen
Ministry of Justice, Clinic of Forensic Psychiatry, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Dorte
D
Sestoft
Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet.
Claus
C
Svarer
Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen. Electronic address: gmk@nru.dk.
Gitte Moos
GM
Knudsen
D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger / Q000502:physiology*; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010879:Piperazines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011485:Protein Binding; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B / Q000378:metabolism*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
C530629:5-methyl-8-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxylic acid (4-morpholin-4-yl-phenyl)amide; D001578:Benzopyrans; D009025:Morpholines; D010879:Piperazines; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists
5-HT(1B); Aggression; Neuroimaging; PET; Positron emission tomography; Striatum