The overall aim of this proposal is to study alcohol induced aggression and attempt to determine the underlying neurochemistry of this behavior.
Specific Aims : 1. To measure alcohol induced aggressive responding in subjects with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASP and matched controls 2. To measure baseline serotonin function in subjects with ASP and matched controls using an ipsapiron neuroendocrine challenge. 3. To measure changes in alcohol induced aggressive responding in subjects with ASP after chronic administration of the serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine compared to placebo. Rationale: The association between ethanol use and violence in the general population has been well documented (Lowenstein et al., 1990, Macdonald, 1961). Ethanol also increases aggressive responding in humans and animals under controlled laboratory conditions, but large inter-individual differences in this effect have been observed (Cherek et al., 1 984, Miczek et al., 1 993) Retrospective studies which examine the relationship between ethanol use and aggression find that alcoholics with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASP) have an earlier age of onset of drinking, and more social and occupational problems related to drinking (Hesselbrock et al., 1984, Schuckit et al., 1985). These individuals have been found to have lower serotonin (5-HT) function as measured by CSF 5HIAA (Virkkunen et al., 1994). Thus there is evidence linking ASP and 5-HT to aggression and ethanol. The research proposed will investigate the relationship between ASP and ethanol induced aggressive responding and attempt to determine the role of 5-HT in these behaviors under controlled laboratory conditions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA010828-02
Application #
2699683
Study Section
Clinical and Treatment Subcommittee (ALCP)
Project Start
1997-05-01
Project End
2000-04-30
Budget Start
1998-05-01
Budget End
1999-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77225
Moeller, F G; Dougherty, D M (2001) Antisocial personality disorder, alcohol, and aggression. Alcohol Res Health 25:5-11
Moeller, F G; Bjork, J M; Dougherty, D M et al. (2000) Low dose zolmitriptan as a 5-HT neuroendocrine challenge agent in humans. Psychoneuroendocrinology 25:607-18
Bjork, J M; Dougherty, D M; Moeller, F G et al. (2000) Differential behavioral effects of plasma tryptophan depletion and loading in aggressive and nonaggressive men. Neuropsychopharmacology 22:357-69
Dougherty, D M; Moeller, F G; Steinberg, J L et al. (1999) Alcohol increases commission error rates for a continuous performance test. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 23:1342-51
Moeller, F G; Dougherty, D M; Lane, S D et al. (1998) Antisocial personality disorder and alcohol-induced aggression. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 22:1898-902