Citation

Virkkunen M, Goldman D, Nielsen DA, Linnoila M. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 1995; 20(4): 271-275.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Canadian Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7544158

PMCID

PMC1188701

Abstract

The findings of a series of studies by the authors support the idea that most impulsive offenders who have a tendency to behave aggressively while intoxicated have a low brain serotonin turnover rate. The impulsive violent offenders with the lowest CSF 5-HIAA concentrations have diurnal activity rhythm disturbances, and are also prone to hypoglycemia after an oral glucose challenge. Low CSF 5-HIAA combined with hyoglycemic tendency also predicts future violence under the influence of alcohol. Sons of alcoholic fathers, who have committed violent crimes, have very low CSF 5-HIAA concentrations. Vagal tone does not correlate significantly with CSF 5-HIAA but correlates with enhanced insulin secretion, which is most prominent in subjects with intermittent explosive disorder. A polymorphism of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) gene is associated with low CSF 5-HIAA and a history of suicide attempts.

Language: en