Preliminary evidence that specific candidate genes are associated with adolescent‐onset antisocial behavior

Abstract

Though initially conceptualized as resulting from peer imitation of child-onset or life-course-persistent youth [Moffitt, 1993], there is mounting evidence from twin studies that adolescent-onset or adolescent-limited antisocial behavior may also be genetically influenced. This study sought to provide preliminary molecular genetic evidence in support of these findings. We further evaluated whether genetic associations varied between behavioral subtypes of ASB (i.e., physical aggression and nonaggressive rule-breaking), given that only the latter has been found to characterize adolescent-onset ASB. The sample consisted of 211 undergraduate men of European-American ancestry. Three polymorphisms with theoretical and/or empirical ties to ASB or related traits (i.e., tryptophan hydroxylase-A218C, 5HT(2A) His452Tyr, and the DAT1 variable nucleotide tandem repeat) were genotyped. Analyses revealed that two of the three polymorphisms (i.e., His452Tyr and DAT1) were associated with adolescent ASB. Moreover, these associations appeared to be specific to the nonaggressive, rule-breaking form of ASB, and did not extend to physical aggression, further supporting ties to adolescent ASB in particular. Such results thus constructively replicate earlier findings of genetic influence on adolescent ASB. They also offer preliminary evidence that the genetic processes underlying aggressive and nonaggressive antisocial behavior may be (at least partially) distinct.

Development and validation of the Subtypes of Antisocial Behavior Questionnaire

“…Specifically, physical aggression appears to be more heritable than rule-breaking (i.e., genetic influences account for 65 and 48% of the variance, respectively), whereas rule-breaking is influenced more by the shared environment than is aggression (i.e., shared environmental influences account for 5 and 18% of the variance, respectively) [Burt, 2009;Tackett et al, 2005]. Recent work has also suggested that associations with particular candidate genes (namely, 5HT 2A His452Tyr and DAT1) vary across physical aggression and rule-breaking [Burt and Mikolajewski, 2008], such that these particular genes are uniquely associated with rule-breaking. In short, there is converging evidence that physical aggression and nonaggressive, rule-breaking constitute two separable though correlated subtypes of antisocial behavior.…”

Molecular-Genetic Polymorphisms of Dopamine, Serotonin and Androgenic Systems as Molecular Markers of Success in Judo Wrestling Sportsmen

“…the linear increase of occurrence of 10/10 genotypes with the increase of sportive achievements in shooting. Interestingly, the 10/10 DAT1 genotype had been associated with antisocial behavior in adolescents [31], as well as with aggression and delinquency [33].…”

Correlatos dos comportamentos antissociais limitados a adolescencia e dos comportamentos antissociais persistentes

“…Nessa categoria, foram considerados os estudos que abordam as influências genéticas possivelmente relacionadas com o desenvolvimento de comportamentos antissociais (Burt & Mikolajewski, 2008;Silberg, Rutter, Tracy, Maes, & Eaves, 2007). O estudo de Silberg et al (2007), por exemplo, identificou que os comportamentos antissociais podem ser hereditários nos casos da antissocialidade persistente -ALV -e que, por outro lado, mudanças biológicas típicas da puberdade, envolvendo aspectos hormonais e o crescimento do corpo, podem estar associadas à ALA. Os autores afirmam que, apesar de existirem influências genéticas, devem ser consideradas as fases do desenvolvimento do indivíduo e as influências ambientais, pois os comportamentos antissociais têm causas multifatoriais (Silberg et al, 2007).…”

“…No entanto, é necessário perceber que existem diversos fatores de risco que podem desencadear os comportamentos antissociais e deve-se levar em consideração o contexto em que esse indivíduo está inserido a fim de evitar o reducionismo e o determinismo, pois cada indivíduo age de forma singular aos eventos que enfrenta ao longo do desenvolvimento (Burt, 2008). Assim, cada caso deve ser estudado de forma diferenciada e deve-se levar em conta a fase do desenvolvimento do indivíduo.…”