@article{ref1,
title="Acute tryptophan depletion and self-injurious behavior in aggressive patients and healthy volunteers",
journal="Psychopharmacology",
year="2009",
author="McCloskey, Michael S. and Ben-Zeev, Dror and Lee, Robin and Berman, Mitchell E. and Coccaro, E. F.",
volume="203",
number="1",
pages="53-61",
abstract="RATIONALE: An association between serotonin (5-HT) activity and self-injurious (i.e., self-aggressive) behavior across the spectrum of lethality (from self-mutilation through completed suicide) is a well-replicated finding. Studies to date, however, have relied on nonexperimental designs to examine this relationship, limiting the causal inferences that can be drawn about the role of 5-HT in self-aggressive behavior. OBJECTIVE: Examine the effect of experimentally altered 5-HT activity (via dietary tryptophan depletion) on self-aggressive behavior among adults with and without intermittent explosive disorder (IED). Individuals with a marked history of aggression, such as those with IED, are characterized by compromised 5-HT and heightened risk for self-aggression, making this a population of interest for examining the proposed relations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IED patients (n = 16) and healthy controls (n = 16) received a tryptophan depletion and a placebo drink on separate days at least 1 week apart. Self-aggressive behavior was assessed on both study days using a well-validated laboratory-based behavioral assessment with self-aggression defined as the intensity of shock self-administered. RESULTS: Tryptophan depletion facilitated selection of more intense shocks, on average, in both groups. Patients with IED were also more self-aggressive overall than healthy volunteers. No IED by drink condition interactions were found. CONCLUSION: Experimentally lowered 5-HT bioavailability enhances overall self-injurious behavior irrespective of aggression history.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0033-3158",
doi="10.1007/s00213-008-1374-6",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-008-1374-6"
}