22nd ECNP Congress 2009: are the Monoamines Involved in Shaping Conduct Disorders?

ISTANBUL, Turkey - New findings on the significance of platelet MAO activity and MAO gene variants with regard to antisocial behaviour have today been presented by Prof. Lars Oreland, University of Uppsala, Sweden, at a press conference during the 22nd ECNP Congress. Prof. Oreland outlined that, based on gene-environment interactions, the brain monoamine systems play a crucial role in shaping personality traits and conduct disorder. The monoamine oxidases (MAOs) genes appear to be the first genes strongly linked with either antisocial behaviour or conduct disorder.

MAOs are two enzymes (MAO-A, MAO-B) that inactivate the monoamine transmitter substances serotonin, noradrenalin and dopamine. The brain systems utilizing these transmitters are of importance for the fine-tuning of personality traits. Individuals with one set of MAO gene variants seem to be virtually independent of environment for the risk of antisocial behaviour, and in this way could explain resilience towards an unfavourable environment. By contrast, those with another set of MAO gene variants are highly dependent on psychosocial environment and have considerable vulnerability for antisocial behaviour.

Experiments with animals and studies on humans show that a reduced capacity of the brain serotonin system is linked to a personality characterised by impulsiveness and ’sensation seeking’. High ’sensation seeking’ is linked to increased risk for negative behavioural outcomes such as drug abuse etc. Furthermore, research findings suggest that both the molecular and the psychosocial mechanisms underlying antisocial behaviour may differ between males and females. The identification of neural mechanisms underlying human personality seems to be promising due to their importance as highly heritable risk mediators for aggressive behaviour, criminal activity, as well as somatic and psychiatric disorders.

Source: Press Conference at the 22nd Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), 13 Sept 2009, Istanbul, Turkey

The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), founded in 1987, is a scientific forum that encourages translational research between the neurosciences and clinical practice (www.ecnp.eu).

For further information please contact: Press Office ECNP 2009: Update Europe Vienna, Austria Tel. +43-1-405-57-34 E-mail: s.mak@update.europe.at

Source: Update Europe

For further information please contact: Press Office ECNP 2009: Update Europe, Vienna, Austria, Tel. +43-1-405-57-34, E-mail: s.mak at update.europe.at