Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
J Abnorm Psychol. 2013 Feb;122(1):167-79. doi: 10.1037/a0029866. Epub 2012 Sep 17.
Psychopathy is a multidimensional construct characterized by an interpersonally manipulative and emotionally detached personality profile that differentiates it from other antisocial syndromes. Previous research with youth has linked the long allele of the serotonin transporter gene in the presence of environmental stress with the interpersonal and affective traits of psychopathy, but these relationships have yet to be examined in relation to adult psychopathy. Consequently, we examined how serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) polymorphisms, monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) variants, and childhood abuse measured with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire relate to dimensions of psychopathy in a forensic sample of 237 men with elevated levels of environmental adversity. We found that the emotional deficits characterizing the affective factor of psychopathy, as measured by the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version, were highest among carriers of the 5-HTT long allele. Furthermore, the impulsive and irresponsible lifestyle features of psychopathy were higher among low-activity than high-activity MAO-A carriers. These genetic effects were unexpectedly not moderated by a history of childhood abuse. Results provide evidence on the molecular genetics correlates of psychopathic traits in adulthood, relationships that should be investigated further in future research.
精神变态是一种多维结构，其特征是人际交往中善于操纵他人和情感上冷漠的人格特征，这使其与其他反社会综合征区分开来。以前对年轻人的研究表明，在环境压力下，5-羟色胺转运体基因的长等位基因与精神变态的人际交往和情感特征有关，但这些关系尚未在成人精神变态中进行研究。因此，我们研究了在一个有 237 名男性的法医学样本中，5-羟色胺转运体（5-HTTLPR）多态性、单胺氧化酶-A（MAO-A）变体以及童年期创伤问卷（Childhood Trauma Questionnaire）测量的儿童虐待与精神变态的各个维度之间的关系，这些男性的环境逆境水平较高。我们发现，用《精神变态检查表：筛查版》（Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version）测量的精神变态情感因素的情感缺陷在携带 5-HTT 长等位基因的个体中最高。此外，冲动和不负责任的生活方式特征在低活性 MAO-A 携带者中比高活性 MAO-A 携带者中更高。这些遗传效应出乎意料地不受儿童虐待史的调节。结果为成年精神变态特征的分子遗传学相关性提供了证据，这些关系应该在未来的研究中进一步研究。
