CREB1 modulates the influence of childhood sexual abuse on adult's anger traits

Gene-environment interactions between CREB1 and childhood maltreatment on aggression among male Chinese adolescents

Both the genetic and environmental factors may affect aggression susceptibility. However, the conclusions of these associations remain discrepant. In addition, studies that explored the association between CREB1 and aggression were meager. The aim of our present study was to assess whether CREB1 polymorphisms were related to aggression and also to explore the interactive effects of CREB1 variants and childhood maltreatment on aggression. A total of 488 individuals with aggressive behavior and 488 controls were recruited. Aggression and childhood maltreatment were surveyed by standardized self-administered questionnaires. Buccal cells were also obtained and genotyping was conducted using SNPscan. Logistic regressions were applied to investigate both individual effects of CREB1 polymorphisms and the interactive influences with childhood maltreatment on aggression. We found that adolescents who carried the rs4675690 T allele in CREB1 showed a higher level of aggression compared with those who carried wildtype genotypes (CC) under the dominant model (OR = 1.67, 95% CI, 1.16–2.40) after controlling for age and childhood maltreatment. Moreover, we also found that rs4675690 T allele had a synergic additive interaction with childhood sexual abuse and emotional neglect on aggression. The significant interactive effects of CREB1 polymorphisms and childhood maltreatment on aggression were reported for the first time.

Prevalence and correlates of anger in the community: results from a national survey

INTRODUCTION

Little is known about the prevalence and correlates of anger in the community.

METHODS

We used data derived from a large national sample of the U.S. population, which included more than 34,000 adults ages 18 years and older. We defined inappropriate, intense, or poorly controlled anger by means of self-report of the following: (1) anger that was triggered by small things or that was difficult to control, (2) frequent temper outbursts or anger that lead to loss of control, or (3) hitting people or throwing objects in anger.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of inappropriate, intense, or poorly controlled anger in the U.S. population was 7.8%. Anger was especially common among men and younger adults, and was associated with decreased psychosocial functioning. Significant and positive associations were evident between anger and parental factors, childhood, and adulthood adverse events. There were strong associations between anger and bipolar disorder, drug dependence, psychotic disorder, borderline, and schizotypal personality disorders. There was a dose-response relationship between anger and a broad range of psychopathology.

CONCLUSIONS

A rationale exists for developing screening tools and early intervention strategies, especially for young adults, to identify and help reduce anger.

MAOA and MAOB polymorphisms and anger-related traits in suicidal participants and controls

MAOA and, to a lesser extent, MAOB polymorphisms have been related to aggression traits and suicidality. We aimed to investigate the role of MAOA and MAOB in suicidal versus non-suicidal participants and interactions between genetic variation and suicidal status on aggression and anger-related traits. The sample was composed of three groups: one group of suicide attempters (n = 171, males 35.1 %), one group of suicide completers (n = 90, males 57.8 %) and a healthy control group (n = 317, males 43.8 %). We examined the following markers: MAOA rs909525, rs6323, and rs2064070, and MAOB rs1799836. Anger traits were measured with the state-trait anger expression inventory (STAXI) and aggression traits with the questionnaire for measuring factors of aggression (FAF). Associations were separately examined for males and females. Variation in the three MAOA variants was associated with higher levels of anger expressed outwards (STAXI "anger-out" subscale) in male suicidal patients compared to controls (p < 0.001). In females, the C allele of rs6323 showed higher scores on the same subscale ("anger out") (p = 0.002). Allele frequencies of the MAOA rs909525 were associated with suicidality (p < 0.007). Our findings show an association between genetic variation in three polymorphisms of the MAOA and anger traits in suicidal males and one replication for the functional variant rs6323 in females. This relationship was stronger than a direct genetic association with suicide status. Future studies incorporating endophenotypic measures of anger and aggression in suicidal participants are warranted.

Additive effects between prematurity and postnatal risk factors of suicidal behavior

BACKGROUND

Pre- and perinatal insults increase suicide risk. The main objective of the present study is to investigate if prematurity interacts in an additive fashion with postnatal risk factors of suicidal behavior.

METHOD

Sample and procedure: 857 adult suicide attempters consecutively hospitalized for a suicide attempt were included. Studied characteristics of suicide attempts included use of a violent mean, age at first suicide attempt, and number of suicide attempts. Risk factors of suicidal behavior included indexes of pre- and perinatal adversity, childhood maltreatment as measured with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, personality traits as measured with the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire, and family history of suicidal behavior.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES

Comparisons between the different patterns of suicide attempts characteristics were made using logistic regression with crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

The risk of violent suicide attempts increased significantly in patients born prematurely (OR [95%] = 2.38[1.12-5.08]). There were additive effects for very preterm birth and 1) emotional abuse (OR [95% CI] = 4.52 [1.75-11.60]), 2) novelty seeking (OR [95% CI] = 8.92[3.09-25.7]), and 3) harm avoidance (OR [95% CI] = 5.81 [2.43-13.90]) on the age at first suicide attempt, after adjustment for potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Very preterm birth appears to be the first step in a cascade of stressors across lifetime, which affects the risk and the severity of suicidal behavior. Furthermore, very preterm birth, childhood maltreatment and personality traits have additive effects that influence the age at onset of suicide attempt. Our findings may have potential consequences for preventive policies.