@article{ref1,
title="Possible association between serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphism and extremely violent crime in Chinese males",
journal="Neuropsychobiology",
year="2004",
author="Liao, Ding-Lieh and Hong, Chen-Jee and Shih, Hao-Ling and Tsai, Shih-Jen",
volume="50",
number="4",
pages="284-287",
abstract="The neurotransmitter, serotonin, has been implicated in aggressive behavior. The serotonin transporter (5-HTT), which reuptakes serotonin into the nerve terminal, plays a critical role in the regulation of serotonergic function. Previous western reports have demonstrated that the low-activity short (S) allele of the 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic-region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism is associated with aggressive behavior and associated personality traits. In the present study, we investigated this 5-HTTLPR genetic polymorphism in a group of Chinese males who had been convicted for extremely violent crime (n = 135) and a normal control group (n = 111). The proportion of S-allele carriers was significantly higher in the criminal group than in the controls (p = 0.006). A significant association was not demonstrated for the relationship between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and antisocial personality disorder, substance abuse or alcohol abuse in the criminal group. Our findings demonstrate that carriage of the low-activity S allele is associated with extremely violent criminal behavior in Chinese males, and suggests that the 5-HTT may be implicated in the mechanisms underlying violent behaviors.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0302-282X",
doi="10.1159/000080953",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000080953"
}