Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T03:57:33.972Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Aggression and personality: association with amino acids and monoamine metabolites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

S. E. Møller ,
E. L. Mortensen ,
L. Breum ,
C. Alling ,
O. G. Larsen ,
T. Bøge-Rasmussen ,
C. Jensen  and
K. Bennicke
S. E. Møller*
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Biological Psychiatry, St Hans Hospital, Roskilde; Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen Health Services and Departments of Endocrinology, Radiology and Neurosurgery, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Endocrinology E, Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Lund, Sweden
E. L. Mortensen
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Biological Psychiatry, St Hans Hospital, Roskilde; Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen Health Services and Departments of Endocrinology, Radiology and Neurosurgery, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Endocrinology E, Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Lund, Sweden
L. Breum
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Biological Psychiatry, St Hans Hospital, Roskilde; Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen Health Services and Departments of Endocrinology, Radiology and Neurosurgery, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Endocrinology E, Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Lund, Sweden
C. Alling
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Biological Psychiatry, St Hans Hospital, Roskilde; Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen Health Services and Departments of Endocrinology, Radiology and Neurosurgery, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Endocrinology E, Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Lund, Sweden
O. G. Larsen
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Biological Psychiatry, St Hans Hospital, Roskilde; Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen Health Services and Departments of Endocrinology, Radiology and Neurosurgery, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Endocrinology E, Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Lund, Sweden
T. Bøge-Rasmussen
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Biological Psychiatry, St Hans Hospital, Roskilde; Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen Health Services and Departments of Endocrinology, Radiology and Neurosurgery, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Endocrinology E, Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Lund, Sweden
C. Jensen
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Biological Psychiatry, St Hans Hospital, Roskilde; Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen Health Services and Departments of Endocrinology, Radiology and Neurosurgery, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Endocrinology E, Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Lund, Sweden
K. Bennicke
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Biological Psychiatry, St Hans Hospital, Roskilde; Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen Health Services and Departments of Endocrinology, Radiology and Neurosurgery, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Endocrinology E, Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Lund, Sweden
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Svend Erik Møller, Department of Clinical Research, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, DK-2500, Copenhagen-Valby, Denmark.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Synopsis

Associations in 52 normal individuals were examined between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of tryptophan (Trp) and tyrosine, and concentrations of monoamine metabolites in the CSF, and scores on an aggression questionnaire, the Kinsey Institute Reaction List II, and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. There was a significantly positive correlation between CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels and extroverted aggression scores, and a significantly negative correlation between CSF 5-HIAA levels and introverted aggression scores. Males showed higher plasma Trp concentrations than females, and significantly positive correlations between plasma Trp concentrations and scores on extroverted aggression and the Eysenck E scale. Males, furthermore, showed a significantly negative correlation between CSF Trp levels and scores on the Eysenck P scale, and a significantly positive correlation between concentration of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol in CSF and scores on moral aggression. These results suggest that central serotonin influences aggression in normal individuals through effects on personality.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , March 1996 , pp. 323 - 331
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ågren, H., Meeford, I. N., Rudorfer, M. V., Linnoila, M. & Potter, W. Z. (1986). Interacting neurotransmitter systems. A non-experimental approach to the 5-HIAA-HVA correlation in human CSF. Journal of Psychiatric Research 20, 175–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Armstrong, M. D. & Stave, U. (1973). A study of plasma free amino acid levels. II. Normal values for children and adults. Metabolism 22, 561–569.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Åsberg, M., Träskman, L. & Thorén, P. (1976). 5-HIAA in the cerebrospinal fluid. Archives of General Psychiatry 33, 1193–1197.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ballenger, J. C., Post, R. M., Jimerson, D. C., Lake, C. R., Murphy, D., Zuckerman, M. & Cronin, C. (1983). Biochemical correlates of personality traits in normals: an exploratory study. Personality and Individual Differences 4, 615–625.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Branchey, L., Branchey, M., Shaw, S. & Lieber, C. S. (1984). Depression, suicide, and aggression in alcoholics and their relationship to plasma amino acids. Psychiatry Research 12, 219–226.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, G. L. & Linnoila, M. I. (1990). CSF serotonin metabolite (5-HIAA) studies in depression, impulsivity, and violence. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 51 (suppl.), 31–41.Google ScholarPubMed
Brown, G. L., Goodwin, F. K., Ballenger, J. C., Goyer, P. F. & Major, L. F. (1979). Aggression in humans correlates with cerebrospinal fluid amine metabolites. Psychiatry Research 1, 131–139.Google Scholar
Brown, G. L., Ebert, M. H., Goyer, P. F., Jimerson, D. C., Klein, W. J., Bunney, W. E. & Goodwin, F. K. (1982). Aggression, suicide, and serotonin: relationship to CSF amine metabolites. American Journal of Psychiatry 139, 741–746.Google Scholar
Carboni, E., Cadoni, C., Tanda, G. L., Frau, R. & Di Chiara, G. (1991). Serotonin release and metabolism in the frontal cortex: effect of drugs, tryptophan and stress. In Monitoring Molecules in Neuroscience (ed. Rollema, H., Westerink, B. H. G. and Drijfhout, W. J.), pp. 235–237. Krips Repro: Meppel, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Cleare, A. J. & Bond, A. J. (1994). Effects of alterations in plasma tryptophan levels on aggressive feelings. Archives of General Psychiatry 51, 1004–1005.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coccaro, E. F. (1989). Central serotonin and impulsive aggression. British Journal of Psychiatry 155 suppl. 8, 52–62.Google Scholar
Coccaro, E. F. (1992). Impulsive aggression and central serotonergic system function in humans: an example of a dimensional brain-behavior relationship. International Clinical Psychopharmacology 7, 3–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cooley, W. W. & Lohnes, P. R. (1971). Multivariate Data Analysis. John Wiley & Sons: New York.Google Scholar
Eysenck, S. B. G. & Eysenck, H. J. (1975). Manual of the Eysenck-Personality Questionnaire. Hodder and Stoughton: London.Google Scholar
Faustman, W. O., King, R. J., Faull, K. F., Moses, J. A. Jr., Benson, K. L., Zarcone, V. P. & Csernansky, J. G. (1991). MMPI measures of impulsivity and depression correlate with CSF 5-HIAA and HVA in depression but not schizophrenia. Journal of Affective Disorders 22, 235–239.Google Scholar
Fernstrom, J. D. & Faller, D. V. (1978). Neutral amino acids in the brain: changes in response to food ingestion. Journal of Neurochemistry 30, 1531–1538.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gladue, B. A. (1991). Aggressive behavioral characteristics, hormones, and sexual orientation in men and women. Aggressive Behavior 17, 313–326.Google Scholar
Golden, R. N., Gilmore, J. H., Corrigan, M. H. N., Ekstrom, R. D., Knight, B. T. & Garbutt, J. C. (1991). Serotonin, suicide, and aggression: clinical studies. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 52 (suppl. 12), 61–69.Google Scholar
Hagenfeldt, L., Bjerkenstedt, L., Edman, G., Sedvall, G. & Wiesel, F. A. (1984). Amino acids in plasma and CSF and monoamine metabolites in CSF: interrelationship in healthy subjects. Journal of Neurochemistry 42, 833–837.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Limson, R., Goldman, D., Roy, A., Lamparski, D., Ravitz, B., Adinoff, B. & Linnoila, M. (1991). Personality and cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolites in alcoholics and controls. Archives of General Psychiatry 48, 437–441.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Linnoila, M., Virkkunen, M., Scheinin, M., Nuutila, A., Rimon, R. & Goodwin, F. K. (1983). Low cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid concentration differentiates impulsive from nonimpulsive violent behavior. Life Sciences 33, 2609–2614.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marascuilo, L. A. & Levin, J. R. (1983). Multivariate Statistics in the Social Sciences: A Researcher's Guide. Brooks/Cole Publ. Co.: Monterey, California.Google Scholar
Møller, S. E. (1985). Effect of various oral protein doses on plasma neutral amino acid levels. Journal of Neural Transmission 61, 183–191.Google Scholar
Møller, S. E. (1986). Carbohydrate/protein selection in a single meal correlated with plasma tryptophan and tyrosine ratios to neutral amino acids in fasting individuals. Physiology and Behavior 38, 175–183.Google Scholar
Møller, S. E. (1989). Neutral amino acid plasma levels in healthy subjects: effect of complex carbohydrate consumed along with protein. Journal of Neural Transmission 76, 55–63.Google Scholar
Møller, S. E. (1990). Plasma neutral amino acids associated with the efficacy of antidepressant treatment. A summary. In Amino Acids in Psychiatric Disease (ed. Richardson, M. A.), pp. 99–129. American Psychiatric Press, Inc.: Washington.Google Scholar
Møller, S. E. (1993). Quantification of physiological amino acids by gradient ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. Journal of Chromatography (Biomedical Applications) 613, 223–230.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moller, S. E. & Kirk, L. (1987). Nutrients, neurotransmitters, and behavior. Commentary. Integrative Psychiatry 5, 249–254.Google Scholar
Mühlbauer, H. D. (1985). Human aggression and the role of central serotonin. Pharmacopsychiatria 18, 218–221.Google Scholar
Reinisch, J. M., Mortensen, E. L. & Sanders, S. A. (1993). Prenatal development project. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 87 (suppl. 370), 54–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roy, A. & Linnoila, M. (1988). Suicidal behavior, impulsiveness and serotonin. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 78, 529–535.Google Scholar
Roy, A., Adinoff, B. & Linnoila, M. (1988). Acting out hostility in normal volunteers: negative correlation with levels of 5-HIAA in cerebrospinal fluid. Psychiatry Research 24, 187–194.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schaechter, J. D. & Wurtman, R. J. (1990). Serotonin release varies with brain tryptophan levels. Brain Research 532, 203–210.Google Scholar
Schalling, D., Åsberg, M., Edman, G. & Levander, S. (1984). Impulsivity, nonconformity and sensation seeking as related to biological markers for vulnerability. Clinical Neuropharmacology 7 (suppl. 1), 746–747.Google Scholar
Schwartz, D. H., McClane, S., Hernandez, L. & Hoebel, B. G. (1989). Feeding increases extracellular serotonin in the lateral hypothalamus of the rat as measured by microdialysis. Brain Research 479, 349–354.Google Scholar
Smith, S. E., Pihl, R. O., Young, S. N. & Ervin, F. R. (1986). Elevation and reduction of plasma tryptophan and their effects on aggression and perceptual sensitivity in normal males. Aggressive Behavior 12, 393–407.3.0.CO;2-L>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Swahn, C.-G., Sandgärde, B., Wiesel, F.-A. & Sedvall, G. (1976). Simultaneous determination of the three major monoamine metabolites in brain tissue and body fluids by a mass fragmentographic method. Psychopharmacology 48, 147–152.Google Scholar
Träskman, L., Åsberg, M., Bertilsson, L. & Sjöstrand, L. (1981). Monoamine metabolites in CSF and suicidal behavior. Archives of General Psychiatry 38, 631–636.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Träskman-Bendz, L., Åsberg, M., Nordstrom, P. & Stanley, M. (1989). Biochemical aspects of suicidal behavior. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 13, S35–S44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Praag, H. M. (1986). (Auto)aggression and CSF 5-HIAA in depression and schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology Bulletin 22, 669–673.Google Scholar
Virkkunen, M. & Närvänen, S. (1987). Plasma insulin, tryptophan and serotonin levels during the glucose tolerance test among habitually violent and impulsive offenders. Neuropsychobiology 17, 19–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Virkkunen, M., Nuutila, A., Goodwin, F. K. & Linnoila, M. (1987). Cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolite levels in male arsonists. Archives of General Psychiatry 44, 241–247.Google Scholar
Virkkunen, M., De Jong, J., Bartko, J., Goodwin, F. K. & Linnoila, M. (1989). Relationship of psychobiological variables to recidivism in violent offenders and impulsive fire setters. Archives of General Psychiatry 46, 600–603.Google Scholar
Yokogoshi, H., Roberts, C. H., Caballero, B. & Wurtman, R. J. (1984). Effects of aspartame and glucose administration on brain and plasma levels of large neutral amino acids and brain 5-hydroxyindoles. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 40, 1–7.Google Scholar