Platelet serotonergic markers and aggressive behaviour in healthy subjects

The availability of peripheral markers of the serotonergic system, which appears to play a major role in aggressive behaviour, prompted us to investigate in healthy subjects the possible correlations between platelet 3H-imipramine (3H-IMI) binding or mono-amine-oxidase (MAO) activity and aggression as measured by the Italian version (QTA) of the Buss and Durkee Inventory. The results showed the presence of significant and positive correlations between MAO activity and QTA total scores and the scales of negativism and verbal aggression, and no correlation between 3H-IMI binding parameters and QTA. These findings seem to suggest that perhaps the MAO activity is more linked to the dimension of aggression than is IMI binding.