Alcohol and violence: neuropeptidergic modulation of monoamine systems

Abstract

Neurobiological processes underlying the epidemiologically-established link between alcohol and several types of social, aggressive, and violent behavior remain poorly understood. Acute low doses of alcohol, as well as withdrawal from long-term alcohol use, may lead to escalated aggressive behavior in a subset of individuals. An urgent task will be to disentangle the host of interacting genetic and environmental risk factors in individuals that are predisposed to engage in escalated aggressive behavior. The modulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine impulse flow by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, acting via distinct ionotropic and metabotropic receptor subtypes in the dorsal raphe nucleus during alcohol consumption, is of critical significance in the suppression and escalation of aggressive behavior. In anticipation and reaction to aggressive behavior, neuropeptides such as corticotropin-releasing factor, neuropeptide Y, opioid peptides, and vasopressin interact with monoamines, GABA, and glutamate to attenuate and amplify aggressive behavior in alcohol-consuming individuals. These neuromodulators represent novel molecular targets for intervention that await clinical validation. Intermittent episodes of brief social defeat during aggressive confrontations are sufficient to cause long-lasting neuroadaptations that can lead to the escalation of alcohol consumption.

Substance‐related psychopathology and aggressiveness in a nightlife holiday resort: Results from a pilot study in a psychiatric inpatient unit in Ibiza

“…The data on binge drinking are consistent with the current findings of scientific literature, according to which binge drinking has showed to be a very common way of alcohol consumption, specifically among adolescents and young adults (Martinotti et al, ). Alcohol is also well known as a trigger for multiple aggressive behaviours, such as sexual assault (Abbey, ; Zinzow & Thompson, ) and self‐ and other‐directed aggression (McCloskey & Berman, ; Miczek, DeBold, Hwa, Newman, & de Almeida, ). Sleep problems may be a causal factor in the development of reactive aggression and violence, too.…”

Abstinence from prolonged ethanol exposure affects plasma corticosterone, glucocorticoid receptor signaling and stress-related behaviors

“…Cortisol-aggression relationship in alcohol use disorders is currently unclear; some suggest that low plasma corticosterone is associated with aggression in alcoholics with a history of violent behavior (Bergman and Brismar, 1994; von der et al, 2002), while others report higher plasma corticosterone in violent alcoholics (Buydens-Branchey and Branchey, 1992). Importantly, while violent behavior under alcohol intoxication has been studied extensively, the CORT versus-aggression relation during alcohol abstinence in alcohol dependent subjects is less understood (Miczek et al, 2015a). Thus, alcohol abstinence in rat models of alcohol dependence may help to identify the temporal relations of anxiety/aggression with changes in plasma CORT.…”

Mad men, women and steroid cocktails: a review of the impact of sex and other factors on anabolic androgenic steroids effects on affective behaviors

“…The co-occurrence of AAS and alcohol use is particularly germane as both influence anxietylike behaviors and aggression, and both alter signaling along critical pathways in the extended amygdala and associated projection regions (Rashid 2000; Miczek et al 2015a,b; Pagonis et al 2006; Morrow et al 2009; Costine et al 2010; Oberlander and Henderson 2012a, b; Table 1). Of particular note, both alcohol and AAS converge on key molecular components of anxiety and aggression circuits, including CRF 1 -, GABA A receptor- and serotonin-mediated signaling (Lindqvist et al 2002; Nie et al 2004, 2009; Bajo et al 2008; Sommer et al 2008; Roberto et al 2010; Ambar and Chiavegatto 2009; Chiavegatto et al 2010; Costine et al 2010; Gilpin et al 2012, 2015; Oberlander and Henderson 2012b; Onakomaiya et al 2014; Miczek et al 2015a,b; Pleil et al 2015; Quadros et al 2015; Table 1).…”

“…Of particular note, both alcohol and AAS converge on key molecular components of anxiety and aggression circuits, including CRF 1 -, GABA A receptor- and serotonin-mediated signaling (Lindqvist et al 2002; Nie et al 2004, 2009; Bajo et al 2008; Sommer et al 2008; Roberto et al 2010; Ambar and Chiavegatto 2009; Chiavegatto et al 2010; Costine et al 2010; Gilpin et al 2012, 2015; Oberlander and Henderson 2012b; Onakomaiya et al 2014; Miczek et al 2015a,b; Pleil et al 2015; Quadros et al 2015; Table 1). …”