Peripheral redox imbalance in antisocial personality disorder: Associations with aggression and impulsivity

Oxidative imbalance and inflammatory processes have been implicated in major psychiatric disorders, yet data on personality disorders remain scarce. This study evaluated peripheral redox balance and inflammatory status in men with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and examined their associations with aggression and impulsivity.

In this single-center cross-sectional case-control study, 51 men with ASPD and 51 healthy men were included. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), disulfide (DIS), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The oxidative stress index (OSI) and thiol-disulfide ratios were calculated. Aggression and impulsivity were assessed using the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11).

Compared with controls, the ASPD group showed significantly higher TOS, OSI, DIS, DIS/NT, and DIS/TT, and lower TAS, TT, NT, and NT/TT. These group differences remained significant after adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol use, and substance use. Attentional impulsivity correlated moderately with TAS (r = -0.376) and OSI (r = 0.354). IL-1β levels did not differ between groups.

ASPD in men was associated with peripheral redox imbalance, reflected by increased oxidative burden and disrupted thiol-disulfide homeostasis. The observed redox alterations may reflect peripheral biological changes associated with ASPD, although their clinical significance requires further investigation. A single peripheral measurement of IL-1β did not reveal a significant inflammatory difference between groups. Larger studies incorporating broader biomarker panels are warranted.