Effects of d-amphetamine on human aggressive behavior

Abstract

Male research subjects were administered placebo and three doses of d-amphetamine (5, 10 and 20 mg/70 kg) in a laboratory situation which provided both aggressive and non-aggressive response options. The non-aggressive response was button pressing maintained by presentation of points exchangeable for money at the end of the session. The aggressive response was button pressing on a separate manipulanda which ostensibly subtracted points from a fictitious partner. Aggressive responding was elicited by subtracting points from the research subjects which was attributed to the fictitious partner. d-Amphetamine increased both aggressive and non-aggressive responding, particularly at 5 and 10 mg/70 kg. At the highest dose (20 mg/70 kg), aggressive responding decreased to levels similar to those observed during placebo sessions, while monetary reinforced responding remained elevated.

Effects of d,l-fenfluramine on aggressive and impulsive responding in adult males with a history of conduct disorder

“…In the PSAP procedure, the rate of monetary reinforced responding changes in the expected directions when CNS stimulants and depressants are administered. Monetary reinforced responding was increased following nicotine/tobacco, d-amphetamine and caffeine and decreased following alcohol, diazepam and secobarbital (Cherek 1981;Cherek et al 1983Cherek et al , 1985Cherek et al , 1986Cherek et al , 1989Cherek et al , 1990. Because the acute administration of d,l-fenfluramine resulted in a small stimulant effect on the rate of monetary reinforced responding, the significant decreases in both aggressive and impulsive responses cannot be attributed to a non-specific sedative action of d,l-fenfluramine.…”

Social and neural determinants of aggressive behavior: pharmacotherapeutic targets at serotonin, dopamine and ?-aminobutyric acid systems

“…In fact, the "frustration" effect shows impressive species generality, as it is documented in primates as well as laboratory and farm animals (Dollard et al 1939;Azrin et al 1966;Thompson and Bloom 1966;Arnone and Dantzer 1980a;Cherek and Steinberg 1987). Notably, psychopharmacological studies of aggression under extinction conditions have demonstrated the aggression-escalating effects of alcohol and the aggression-inhibiting effects of nicotine more clearly in humans than in animals (Cherek 1984;Cherek et al 1985;Pihl and Peterson 1993; Table 2).…”

Infant homicide at the hands of mothers: Toward a sociological perspective

“…The second effect stemmed from the effects of substance abuse on interaction with the infant owing to the inability to evaluate one's own behavior. Altered perception of self and others and increased impulsivity and threats to personal self have been cited as significant intervening variables between alcohol consumption and levels of aggression (Sobell and Sobell 1975;Mayfield 1976;Zeichner and Pihl 1979;Rimm et al 1981;Cherek and Steinberg 1987;Gelles and Straus 1988;Roth 1996).…”