Serotonin, testosterone and alcohol in the etiology of domestic violence

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 104; no. 1; pp. 27 - 37
• Main Authors: George, David T, Umhau, John C, Phillips, Monte J, Emmela, Devadatham, Ragan, Paul W, Shoaf, Susan E, Rawlings, Robert R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 10.10.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aggression; Aggression - physiology; Aggression - psychology; Alcoholism; Alcoholism - cerebrospinal fluid; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF); Conditioning, Classical - physiology; Fear - physiology; Fear conditioning; Humans; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid - cerebrospinal fluid; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Rage; Rage - physiology; Risk Factors; Serotonin - physiology; Social behavior disorders. Criminal behavior. Delinquency; Spouse Abuse - psychology; Testosterone - cerebrospinal fluid; Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF); Rage; Aggression; Alcoholism; Fear conditioning; Human; Hormone; Marital relation; Serotonin; Violence; Male; Personality; Cerebrospinal fluid; Testosterone; Concomitant disease; Etiology; Social interaction; Anxiety; Social behavior disorder; Aggressiveness
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-1781(01)00292-X

In a previous study we administered the panicogenic agent sodium lactate to a select group of perpetrators of domestic violence and comparison groups. Results of that study showed that perpetrators exhibited exaggerated lactate-induced fear, panic and rage. In this current study, we compared the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and testosterone obtained from perpetrators of domestic violence and a group of healthy comparison subjects. All subjects were assessed for DSM-III-R diagnoses. Perpetrators with alcohol dependence (DV-ALC) ( n=13), perpetrators without alcohol dependence (DV-NALC) ( n=10) and healthy comparison subjects (HCS) ( n=20) were clinically assessed using the Spielberger Trait Anxiety, Brown–Goodwin Aggression Scale, Buss Durkee Hostility Inventory and Straus Conflict Tactics. Following an overnight fast and bed rest, subjects received a lumbar puncture to obtain CSF concentrations of 5-HIAA and testosterone. Perpetrators scored significantly higher on measures of aggression than HCS. DV-NALC had significantly lower concentrations of CSF 5-HIAA and higher Straus Conflict Tactics (CT) physical violence scores than DV-ALC and HCS. DV-ALC had significantly higher concentrations of CSF testosterone than DV-NALC. DV-ALC also had significantly higher Straus CT physical violence scores than HCS. DV-NALC and DV-ALC differed on 5-HIAA concentrations, testosterone concentrations, Straus CT physical violence scores and alcohol dependence. These results suggest that DV-NALC and DV-ALC groups could have different biological mechanisms mediating domestic violence.