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Association of the MAOA-uVNTR polymorphism with psychopathic traits may change from childhood to adolescence

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Abstract

Psychopathic traits can lead to violence, making it a serious public health concern. Genetic factors contribute to the aetiology of psychopathy. We examined whether monoamine oxidase A (MAOA-uVNTR) was associated with psychopathic traits measured quantitatively from controls through clinically aggressive youth (n = 336). Subjects were sub-categorized into at or above, and below age 13 years. Results reveal that males below age 13 were more likely to display psychopathic traits with the MAOA long variant, whereas males above age 13 years were more likely to display with the short variant. This suggests that developmental factors may be crucial for understanding the role of the MAOA polymorphism in psychopathic traits in males.

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Funding

This research was supported by the Howitt/Dunbar Foundation, CAMH Foundation, CAMH Discovery Fund Post-Doctoral Fellowship (EK) and Institute of Medical Science Entrance Award (TK).

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Author notes

  1. Tuana Kant and Emiko Koyama contributed equally to the manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Tuana Kant, Clement C. Zai, Joseph H. Beitchman & James L. Kennedy

  2. Molecular Brain Science Department, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Tuana Kant, Emiko Koyama, Clement C. Zai & James L. Kennedy

  3. The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth and Family Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Emiko Koyama & Joseph H. Beitchman

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Clement C. Zai, Joseph H. Beitchman & James L. Kennedy

  5. Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Clement C. Zai

Authors
  1. Tuana Kant
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  2. Emiko Koyama
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  3. Clement C. Zai
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  4. Joseph H. Beitchman
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  5. James L. Kennedy
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Tuana Kant or James L. Kennedy.

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Conflict of interest

JLK is an unpaid member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Myriad Neurosciences Inc., and is author on patents for pharmacogenetic interventions.

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The study was approved by the Research Ethics Board at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

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Informed consent forms were collected from each participant and their guardian.

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Kant, T., Koyama, E., Zai, C.C. et al. Association of the MAOA-uVNTR polymorphism with psychopathic traits may change from childhood to adolescence. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 272, 1517–1521 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-021-01370-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-021-01370-9

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