Low HDL cholesterol, aggression and altered central serotonergic activity

被引:81
作者
Buydens-Branchey, L
Branchey, M
Hudson, J
Fergeson, P
机构
[1] VA New York Harbor Hlth Care Syst, Brooklyn, NY 11209 USA
[2] SUNY Hlth Sci Ctr, Dept Psychiat, Brooklyn, NY 11203 USA
关键词
violence; impulsivity; serotonin; personality disorder; cocaine-related disorders;
D O I
10.1016/S0165-1781(99)00126-2
中图分类号
R749 [精神病学];
学科分类号
100205 ;
摘要
Many studies support a significant relation between low cholesterol levels and poor impulse, aggression and mood control. Evidence exists also for a causal link between low brain serotonin (5-HT) activity and these behaviors. Mechanisms linking cholesterol and hostile or self-destructive behavior are unknown, but it has been suggested that low cholesterol influences 5-HT function. This study was designed to explore the relationship between plasma cholesterol, measures of impulsivity and aggression, and indices of 5-HT function in personality disordered cocaine addicts. Thirty-eight hospitalized male patients (age 36.8 +/- 7.1) were assessed with the DSM-III-R, the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and the Brown-Goodwin Assessment for Life History of Aggression. Fasting basal cholesterol (total, LDL and HDL) was determined 2 weeks after cocaine discontinuation. On the same day 5-HT function was assessed by neuroendocrine (cortisol and prolactin) and psychological (NIMH and 'high' self-rating scales) responses following meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) challenges. Reduced neuroendocrine responses,'high' feelings and increased 'activation-euphoria' following m-CPP have been interpreted as indicating 5-HT alterations in a variety of psychiatric conditions. Significantly lower levels of HDL cholesterol were found in patients who had a history of aggression (P = 0.005). Lower levels of HDL cholesterol were also found to be significantly associated with more intense 'high' and 'activation-euphoria' responses as well as with blunted cortisol responses to m-CPP (P = 0.033, P = 0.025 and P = 0.018, respectively). This study gives further support to existing evidence indicating that in some individuals, the probability of exhibiting impulsive and violent behaviors may be increased when cholesterol is low. It also suggests that low cholesterol and alterations in 5-HT activity may be causally related. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:93 / 102
页数:10
相关论文
共 36 条
  • [1] ALLAIN CC, 1974, CLIN CHEM, V20, P470
  • [2] [Anonymous], 1990, USERS GUIDE STRUCTUR
  • [3] BARRATT ES, 1957, PSYCHOL REP, V21, P343
  • [4] BENKELFAT C, 1991, ARCH GEN PSYCHIAT, V48, P383
  • [5] Brown GL, 1981, PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY A, P131
  • [6] AN INVENTORY FOR ASSESSING DIFFERENT KINDS OF HOSTILITY
    BUSS, AH
    DURKEE, A
    [J]. JOURNAL OF CONSULTING PSYCHOLOGY, 1957, 21 (04): : 343 - 349
  • [7] The meta-chlorophenylpiperazine challenge test in cocaine addicts: Hormonal and psychological responses
    BuydensBranchey, L
    Branchey, M
    Fergeson, P
    Hudson, J
    McKernin, C
    [J]. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY, 1997, 41 (11) : 1071 - 1086
  • [8] SEROTONIN FUNCTION IN ANXIETY .2. EFFECTS OF THE SEROTONIN AGONIST MCPP IN PANIC DISORDER PATIENTS AND HEALTHY-SUBJECTS
    CHARNEY, DS
    WOODS, SW
    GOODMAN, WK
    HENINGER, GR
    [J]. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY, 1987, 92 (01) : 14 - 24
  • [9] LOW SERUM-CHOLESTEROL AND SUICIDE
    ENGELBERG, H
    [J]. LANCET, 1992, 339 (8795) : 727 - 729
  • [10] GLUECK CJ, 1994, AM J MED SCI, V308, P218