Nature and nurture influence later-life violence: serotonergic genes and childhood adversity

A. Reif; M. Roesler; C.M. Freitag; M. Schneider; C. Kissling; A. Eujen; D. Wenzler; C.P. Jacob; P. Retz-Junginger; J. Thome; K.P. Lesch; W. Retz

doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2007.01.1131

Nature and nurture influence later-life violence: serotonergic genes and childhood adversity

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 April 2020

A. Reif ,

M. Roesler ,

C.M. Freitag ,

M. Schneider ,

C. Kissling ,

A. Eujen ,

D. Wenzler ,

C.P. Jacob ,

P. Retz-Junginger and

J. Thome

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A. Reif: Affiliation:
Clinical and Molecular Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
M. Roesler: Affiliation:
Institute for Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry, University of The Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
C.M. Freitag: Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of The Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
M. Schneider: Affiliation:
Institute for Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry, University of The Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
C. Kissling: Affiliation:
Department for Psychiatry, The School of Medicine, University of Wales, Swansea, United Kingdom
A. Eujen: Affiliation:
Clinical and Molecular Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
D. Wenzler: Affiliation:
Institute for Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry, University of The Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
C.P. Jacob: Affiliation:
Clinical and Molecular Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
P. Retz-Junginger: Affiliation:
Institute for Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry, University of The Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
J. Thome: Affiliation:
Department for Psychiatry, The School of Medicine, University of Wales, Swansea, United Kingdom
K.P. Lesch: Affiliation:
Clinical and Molecular Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
W. Retz: Affiliation:
Institute for Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry, University of The Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany

Article contents

Abstract

Abstract

We investigated the contribution of polymorphisms shown to moderate transcription of serotonin transporter (5HTT) and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) to the development of violence, and furthermore to test for gene x environment interactions. To do so, a cohort of 184 adult male volunteers referred for forensic assessment were assigned to a violent or non-violent group. 45% of violent, but only 30% of non-violent individuals carried the low-activity, short MAOA allele. In the violent group, carriers of low-function variants of 5HTT were found in 77%, as compared to 59%. Logistic regression was performed and the best fitting model revealed a significant, independent effect of childhood environment and MAOA genotype. A significant influence of an interaction between childhood environment and 5HTT genotype was found (Fig. 1). MAOA thus appears to be independently associated with violent crime, while there is a relevant 5HTT x environment interaction.