Citation

Cherek DR, Moeller FG, Khan-Dawood F, Swann A, Lane SD. Psychopharmacology 1999; 142(2): 144-148.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, 77030-3497, USA. dcherek@msi.uth.tmc.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10102766

Abstract

A neuroendocrine challenge procedure was carried out in male and female parolees. The parolees were divided into violent and non-violent groups based upon their criminal history. Buspirone (0.4 mg/kg), a 5-HT1a agonist, was used as the challenge agent and plasma prolactin levels were determined. The violent parolees had a blunted prolactin response compared to the non-violent parolees. While reduced serotonergic activity may account for this difference, the pharmacology of buspirone and control of prolactin release suggest a role for dopamine. A reduced serotonergic response would be consistent with a large body of data linking reduced serotonin function and aggressive behavior. While the mechanism is not definite, these data clearly provide evidence for an altered and blunted biological response in parolees with a history of violence.

Language: en