Abstract
Background: Neurochemical studies have pointed to a modulatory role in human aggression for a variety of central neurotransmitters; some seem to play an inhibitory role, whereas others seem to play a facilitory role in the modulation of aggression. Laboratory animal studies of substance P suggest a facilitory role for this undecapeptide in the modulation of aggression, but no studies of substance P have yet been reported with regard to human aggression. Methods: Basal lumbar cerebrospinal fluid samples were obtained from 38 physically healthy subjects with personality disorder (PD) and substance P-like immunoreactivity was measured and correlated with measures of aggression and impulsivity. Results: The cerebrospinal fluid substance P-like immunoreactivity levels were directly correlated with a composite measure of aggression and, more specifically, with Buss-Durkee Aggression. No correlation was seen with any measure of impulsivity or of general dimensions of personality. Conclusions: These data suggest a direct relationship between central nervous system substance P containing neural circuits and aggression in human subjects. This finding adds to the complex picture of the central neuromodulatory role of impulsive aggression in human subjects.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 238-243 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Biological Psychiatry |
Volume | 72 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1 2012 |
Keywords
- Aggression
- CSF
- impulsivity
- neurokinin-1
- personality
- substance P
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biological Psychiatry