Genetic background of extreme violent behavior

Tiihonen, Jari; Rautiainen, M-R; Ollila, Hanna; Repo-Tiihonen, Eila; Virkkunen, Matti; Palotie, Aarno; Pietiläinen, Olli; Kristiansson, Kati; Joukamaa, Matti; Lauerma, Hannu; Saarela, Janna; Tyni, Sasu; Vartiainen, Henriikka; Paananen, Jussi; Goldman, David; Paunio, Tiina

doi:10.1038/mp.2014.130

Cited by 183 publications

(136 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Work is ongoing to identify genes that may be linked to anti-social behavior, including monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), dopamine transporter (DAT1), dopamine receptor (DRD2 and DRD 4), and serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) (Ferguson & Beaver, 2009; Iofrida, Plaumbo, & Pellegrini, 2014), although many of the findings remain a subject of contention (Vassos, Collier, & Fazel, 2014). It seems likely that data regarding genes associated with increased risk for criminal behavior will continue to appear (Tiihonen et al, 2014). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of behavioral genetic evidence on perceptions of criminal responsibility and appropriate punishment.

Appelbaum¹,

Scurich²,

Raad³

2015

Psychology, Public Policy, and Law

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Demonstrations of a link between genetic variants and criminal behavior have stimulated increasing use of genetic evidence to reduce perceptions of defendants’ responsibility for criminal behavior and to mitigate punishment. However, because only limited data exist regarding the impact of such evidence on decision makers and the public at large, we recruited a representative sample of the U.S. adult population (n=960) for a web-based survey. Participants were presented with descriptions of three legal cases and were asked to: determine the length of incarceration for a convicted murderer; adjudicate an insanity defense; and decide whether a defendant should receive the death penalty. A fully crossed, between-participants, factorial design was used, varying the type of evidence (none, genetic, neuroimaging, both), heinousness of the crime, and past criminal record, with sentence or verdict as the primary outcome. Also assessed were participants’ apprehension of the defendant, belief in free will, political ideology, and genetic knowledge. Across all three cases, genetic evidence had no significant effects on outcomes. Neuroimaging data showed an inconsistent effect in one of the two cases in which it was introduced. In contrast, heinousness of the offense and past criminal record were strongly related to participants’ decisions. Moreover, participants’ beliefs about the controllability of criminal behavior and political orientations were significantly associated with their choices. Our findings suggest that neither hopes that genetic evidence will modify judgments of culpability and punishment nor fears about the impact of genetic evidence on decision makers are likely to come to fruition.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of behavioral genetic evidence on perceptions of criminal responsibility and appropriate punishment.

Appelbaum¹,

Scurich²,

Raad³

2015

Psychology, Public Policy, and Law

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“…In female patients with panic disorder, longer, higher activity mao-a promoter alleles were significantly more frequently found than in control females (Deckert et al 1999). A recent study of Finnish prisoners reported a highly significant association of lower activity mao-a polymorphisms with violent behaviors (homicides, attempted homicides or batteries; Tiihoren et al 2014).…”

Section: Modulation Of Mao-a Expression In Neuropsychiatric Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modulation of monoamine oxidase (MAO) expression in neuropsychiatric disorders: genetic and environmental factors involved in type A MAO expression

2015

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Monoamine oxidase types A and B (MAO-A, MAO-B) regulate the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain, and their dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis and influence the clinical phenotypes of neuropsychiatric disorders. Reversible MAO-A inhibitors, such as moclobemide and befloxatone, are currently employed in the treatment of emotional disorders by inhibiting the enzymatic degradation of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine in the central nervous system (CNS). It has been suggested that the irreversible MAO-B inhibitors selegiline and rasagiline exert a neuroprotective effect in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. This effect, however, is not related to their inhibition of MAO activity; in animal and cellular models, selegiline and rasagiline protect neuronal cells through their anti-apoptotic activity and induction of pro-survival genes. There is increasing evidence that MAO-A activity, but not that of MAO-B, is implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders, but also in gene induction by MAO-B inhibitors; on the other hand, selegiline and rasagiline increase MAO-A mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity levels. Taken together, these results suggest that each MAO subtype exerts effects that modulate the expression and activity of the other isoenzyme. The roles of MAO-A and -B in the CNS should therefore be re-evaluated with respect to the "type-specificity" of their inhibitors, which may not be unconditional during chronic treatment. Mao-a expression, in particular, may be implicated in pathogenesis and phenotypes in neuropsychiatric disorders. MAO-A expression is modified by mao polymorphisms affecting its transcriptional efficiency, as well as by mutations and polymorphism of parkin, Sirt1, FOXO, microRNA, presenilin-1, and other regulatory proteins. In addition, childhood maltreatment has been shown to have an impact upon adolescent social behavior in children with mao-a polymorphisms of low transcriptional activity. Low MAO-A activity may increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, resulting in disturbed neurotransmitter system development and behavior. This review discusses genetic and environmental factors involved in the regulation of MAO-A expression, in the contexts of neuropsychiatric function and of the regulation of neuronal survival and death.

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“…They were all Caucasian, which makes it a very interesting population to study. To our knowledge, there exist 5 studies of male criminal offenders: one Korean [47], one Czechian [48], one from the Southern USA [49], one Italian [50,51], and one in a Finnish population [52]. Haeffel et al [53] studied the relationship of poly- morphisms of the dopamine transporter gene and perceived maternal rejection at the onset of major depressive disorder in male adolescents (n = 176) recruited from a juvenile detention center in northern Russia.…”

Section: Limitations and Strengths Of Our Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of Polymorphisms of Serotonin Transporter (5HTTLPR) and 5-HT2C Receptor Genes with Criminal Behavior in Russian Criminal Offenders

et al. 2017

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Background: Human aggression is a heterogeneous behavior with biological, psychological, and social backgrounds. As the biological mechanisms that regulate aggression are components of both reward-seeking and adversity-fleeing behavior, these phenomena are difficult to disentangle into separate neurochemical processes. Nevertheless, evidence exists linking some forms of aggression to aberrant serotonergic neurotransmission. We determined possible associations between 6 serotonergic neurotransmission-related gene variants and severe criminal offenses. Methods: Male Russian prisoners who were convicted for murder (n = 117) or theft (n = 77) were genotyped for variants of the serotonin transporter (5HTTLPR), tryptophan hydroxylase, tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase, or type 2C (5-HT2C) receptor genes and compared with general-population male controls (n = 161). Prisoners were psychologically phenotyped using the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: No differences were found between murderers and thieves either concerning genotypes or concerning psychological measures. Comparison of polymorphism distribution between groups of prisoners and controls revealed highly significant associations of 5HTTLPR and 5-HTR2C (rs6318) gene polymorphisms with being convicted for criminal behavior. Conclusions: The lack of biological differences between the 2 groups of prisoners indicates that the studied 5HT-related genes do not differentiate between the types of crimes committed.

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Genetic background of extreme violent behavior

Cited by 183 publications

References 38 publications

Effects of behavioral genetic evidence on perceptions of criminal responsibility and appropriate punishment.

Effects of behavioral genetic evidence on perceptions of criminal responsibility and appropriate punishment.

Modulation of monoamine oxidase (MAO) expression in neuropsychiatric disorders: genetic and environmental factors involved in type A MAO expression

Association of Polymorphisms of Serotonin Transporter (5HTTLPR) and 5-HT2C Receptor Genes with Criminal Behavior in Russian Criminal Offenders

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