Genetic Perspectives on the Neurochemistry of Human Aggression and Violence

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua W. Buckholtz ◽  
Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg
Keyword(s):  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Antisocial Personality Disorder ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Developmental Period ◽  
Impulsive Aggression ◽  
Genetic Mechanisms ◽  
Serotonin Signaling ◽  
Genetically Determined ◽  
Critical Developmental Period ◽  
Cardinal Symptom

Violence is a devastating social phenomenon that is costly both to affected individuals and to society at large. Pathological aggression, especially reactive/impulsive aggression, is a cardinal symptom common to several psychiatric disorders—including antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and psychopathy—that are associated with risk for violence. Thus, understanding the factors that predispose people to impulsive violence represents a crucial goal for psychology, neuroscience, and psychiatry. Although we are far from a full understanding of the etiopathophysiology of violence, impulsive aggression is heritable, suggesting that genetic mechanisms may be important for determining individual variation in susceptibility. This chapter synthesizes available preclinical and human data to propose a compelling neurogenetic mechanism for violence, specifically arguing that a genetically determined excess in serotonin signaling during a critical developmental period leads to dysregulation within a key corticolimbic circuit for emotional arousal and regulation, inhibitory control, and social cognition.

Impulsiveness, Impulsive Aggression, Personality Disorder, and Spousal Violence

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel W. Edwards ◽  
Charles L. Scott ◽  
Richard M. Yarvis ◽  
Cheryl L. Paizis ◽  
Matthew S. Panizzon
Keyword(s):  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Antisocial Personality Disorder ◽  
Physical Aggression ◽  
Personality Assessment ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Antisocial Personality ◽  
Violence Prediction ◽  
Impulsive Aggression

Impulsiveness has become a key concept in thinking about the determinants of violence and aggression. In this study of spouse abusers, the relationship between impulsiveness, impulsive aggression, and physical violence is confirmed. Impulsiveness and impulsive aggression have significant correlations with physical aggression. Impulsiveness and impulsive aggression are also correlated with measures of Borderline Personality Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder. In addition, the measures of Borderline and Antisocial Personality Disorder (PD) are significantly correlated with physical aggression. The violent and non-violent groups differed on impulsive aggression and on Borderline Personality Disorder. A partial replication of Tweed and Dutton’s findings (1998) revealed sub-groups of high- and low-violence men. The high-violence group was very different from the low-violent and the non-violent groups. The high-violence group had higher pathology scores on all clinical scales, except Mania, of the Personality Assessment Inventory. These findings have implications for violence prediction and for treatment of violent men.

scholarly journals Oxytocin Receptor Gene, Childhood Maltreatment and Borderline Personality Disorder Features among Male Inmates in China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Zhang ◽  
Na Liu ◽  
Haocheng Chen ◽  
Ning Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Antisocial Personality Disorder ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Antisocial Personality ◽  
Male Inmates

Abstract Background: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is caused by a variety of biological and environmental factors. Accumulating evidence suggests that childhood maltreatment is a risk environmental factor in the development of BPD, but research on the genetic pathology of BPD is still in its early stages, and very little is known about the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene. The purpose of this study is to further explore the interactive effects between OXTR gene polymorphisms and childhood maltreatment on BPD risk. Methods: Among the 1804 male inmates, 765 inmates who had BPD or antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) or highly impulsive or violent crime were considered as high-risk inmates and included in this study. Childhood maltreatment, BPD, antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and impulsivity were measured by self-reported questionnaires. Peripheral venous blood was collected for the genotype test. Results: Analyses revealed that the BP group (inmates with BPD features) had higher rs53576 AA genotype frequency and rs237987 AA genotype frequency than the non-BP group, while the statistical significances were lost after Bonferroni correction. Total childhood maltreatment score, emotional abuse and neglect could positively predict BPD risk. Among the high-risk samples, rs53576 GG genotype carriers had higher BPD scores at higher levels of physical abuse and sexual abuse and had lower BPD scores at lower levels of physical abuse and sexual abuse. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the interaction between OXTR gene variations and childhood maltreatment is an important mechanism for the development of BPD. The moderating role of the OXTR gene provides evidence for gene plasticity.

Personality disorders

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sundeep Virdi ◽  
Robert L. Trestman
Keyword(s):  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorders ◽  
Antisocial Personality Disorder ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Narcissistic Personality Disorder ◽  
Correctional Staff ◽  
Mentally Disordered Offenders ◽  
Mentally Disordered ◽  
Paranoid Personality Disorder ◽  
Paranoid Personality

Personality disorders are highly prevalent and highly problematic in jails in prisons. Personality disorders, by definition, are associated with significant functional impairment of the affected individual and may negatively impact those around them. That impairment results from the way these individuals think and feel about themselves and others. Patients with personality disorder are often challenging to manage in the community. The difficulties associated with their care are accentuated in the confines and highly structured environments presented by jails and prisons. Inmates with personality disorders often require a disproportionate level of attention from correctional staff and their behavior can contribute to a dangerous environment inside a facility. Additionally, when compared to offenders with other psychiatric disorders or non-mentally disordered offenders, offenders with personality disorders have higher rates of violence, criminality, and recidivism. There are 4 personality disorders that are of particular clinical relevance to the correctional psychiatry setting: borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and paranoid personality disorder. Research also reflects that these disorders have the highest correctional prevalence rates among the personality disorders. For each of these four disorders, this chapter presents in turn a description and some management concerns and challenges, data on correctional prevalence, appropriate psychotherapy, and potential psychopharmacologic interventions.

Ethical Issues in the Treatment of Dangerous Psychiatric Patients

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Nyquist Potter ◽  
Jay Englehart
Keyword(s):  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Antisocial Personality Disorder ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Antisocial Personality ◽  
Ethical Concerns ◽  
Physical Danger ◽  
Danger To Others

This chapter examines ethical issues that arise when diagnosing and treating dangerous and self-destructive patients. In particular, we look at sex offenders and those diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), who primarily present a danger to others, and those with borderline personality disorder (BPD), who primarily present a physical danger to self. We identify four questions that arise within this population: (1) when should patients be restrained and secluded; (2) what ethical justifications can be employed to analyze the use of restraint and seclusion in these populations; (3) what special considerations need to be taken into account in the use of restraint and seclusion; and (4) what metaphysical and epistemological challenges are involved with this population? Each of these questions is linked to ethical concerns and responsibilities in the use of confinement measures when patients are dangerous to themselves or others.

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