Characterization Of Perpetrators Of Domestic Violence

在一项与NIMH合作的研究中，使用PET [11 C] DASB对5-羟色胺转运体进行成像，我们发现，在攻击性酗酒者、非攻击性酗酒者和健康对照者中，没有大脑区域的5-羟色胺结合发生显著变化。 根据我们以前的研究结果，我们开发了一个模型来了解生物异常如何可能解释家庭暴力肇事者所表现出的行为和诊断。根据这个模型，神经递质的变化导致对环境刺激、焦虑和条件性恐惧的敏感性提高，这反过来又引起先天行为（例如，战斗、逃跑和关闭）或学习的旨在避免焦虑的恐惧回避行为（例如，饮酒、自伤行为和强迫行为）。 目前，我们正在分析脑脊髓液，以确定各种兴奋性和抑制性神经递质的浓度存在于酗酒者和健康对照组，有和没有侵略的历史。来自MRI扫描的数据正在分析中，以确定暴力和非暴力酗酒者之间是否存在任何结构差异。

In a collaborative study with NIMH using PET [11C] DASB to image the serotonin transporter, we showed that among aggressive alcoholics, non-aggressive alcoholics, and healthy controls there were no brain regions that had a significant alteration in serotonin binding. Based on our previous research findings, we developed a model to understand how biological abnormalities can potentially explain the behaviors and diagnoses exhibited by perpetrators of domestic violence. According to this model, changes in neurotransmitters lead to a heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli , anxiety , and conditioned fear which in turn gives rise to either innate behaviors (e.g., fight, flight, and shut down) or learned fear avoidant behaviors designed to avoid anxiety ( e.g., alcohol consumption, self-injurious acts, and obsessive behaviors). Currently we are analyzing cerebral spinal fluid to determine the concentrations of various excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters present in alcoholics with and without a history of aggression, and healthy controls. Data from MRI scans are being analyzed to determine if there are any structural differences between violent and non-violent alcoholics.