CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID VASOPRESSIN LEVELS - CORRELATES WITH AGGRESSION AND SEROTONIN FUNCTION IN PERSONALITY-DISORDERED SUBJECTS

Background: Animal studies suggest that central vasopressin plays a fa cilitatory role in aggressive behavior. To examine this possibility in humans, the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) arginine v asopressin (AVP) and indices of aggression and central serotonin syste m function was examined in personality-disordered subjects. Methods: W e used CSF (AVP), CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and the prolactin re sponse to d-fenfluramine challenge (PRL[d-FEN]) as central indices of vasopressin and serotonergic system function, respectively, in 26 subj ects who met the DSM-TV criteria for personality disorder. Measures of aggression and impulsivity included the Life History of Aggression as sessment and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scales. Results: The CSF AVP le vel was correlated directly with life history of general aggression an d aggression against persons and inversely with PRL[d-FEN] responses ( but not with CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid), which in turn was correl ated inversely with these 2 measures of Life history of aggression. Th e positive relationship between CSF AVP and life history of aggression remained even when the variance associated with PRL[d-FEN] responses in these subjects was accounted for. Conclusion: Central AVP may play a role in enhancing, while serotonin plays a role in inhibiting, aggre ssive behavior in personality)-disordered individuals. In addition to the possibility of central AVP and serotonin interacting to influence human aggression, central AVP may also influence human aggressive beha vior through a mechanism independent of central serotonin in personali ty-disordered subjects.