TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2004//
TI  - Possible association between serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphism and extremely violent crime in Chinese males
JO  - Neuropsychobiology
A1  - Liao, Ding-Lieh
A1  - Hong, Chen-Jee
A1  - Shih, Hao-Ling
A1  - Tsai, Shih-Jen
SP  - 284
EP  - 287
VL  - 50
IS  - 4
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0302-282X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000080953
ID  - ref1
ER  -