A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Genetic background of extreme violent behavior




AuthorsTiihonen J, Rautiainen MR, Ollila HM, Repo-Tiihonen E, Virkkunen M, Palotie A, Pietilainen O, Kristiansson K, Joukamaa M, Lauerma H, Saarela J, Tyni S, Vartiainen H, Paananen J, Goldman D, Paunio T

PublisherNATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Publication year2015

JournalMolecular Psychiatry

Journal name in sourceMOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY

Journal acronymMOL PSYCHIATR

Volume20

Issue6

First page 786

Last page792

Number of pages7

ISSN1359-4184

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2014.130(external)


Abstract

In developed countries, the majority of all violent crime is committed by a small group of antisocial recidivistic offenders, but no genes have been shown to contribute to recidivistic violent offending or severe violent behavior, such as homicide. Our results, from two independent cohorts of Finnish prisoners, revealed that a monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) low-activity genotype (contributing to low dopamine turnover rate) as well as the CDH13 gene (coding for neuronal membrane adhesion protein) are associated with extremely violent behavior (at least 10 committed homicides, attempted homicides or batteries). No substantial signal was observed for either MAOA or CDH13 among non-violent offenders, indicating that findings were specific for violent offending, and not largely attributable to substance abuse or antisocial personality disorder. These results indicate both low monoamine metabolism and neuronal membrane dysfunction as plausible factors in the etiology of extreme criminal violent behavior, and imply that at least about 5-10% of all severe violent crime in Finland is attributable to the aforementioned MAOA and CDH13 genotypes.




Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 19:48