Faulty gene causes some people to become aggressive drunks

by Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor

Alcohol appears to trigger violent behaviour in people who have a particular overactive gene.

The MAOA gene produces an enzyme that breaks down brain chemicals involved with mood.

When alcohol is mixed with high levels of the enzyme it can create a 'dangerous cocktail', according to new research.

The finding raises the possibility that people could be screened for the gene and offered treatment, behavioural therapy or be warned to abstain from alcohol.

The discovery emerged from a study of 174 Finnish alcoholic male offenders with histories of violence. Drinking was found to increase the risk of impulsive violence among individuals born with a highly active version of the MAOA gene.

The effect appears to diminish with age which may explain why younger people are more likely to get into alcohol fuelled fights than older ones.

The research comes as the busiest time of the year is approaching for accident and emergency departments and ambulance workers with office Christmas parties this week, followed by the festive and New Year celebrations.

Roope Tikkanen, one of the researchers from Helsinki University Central Hospital, said: "Alcoholism, alcohol consumption and violence are clearly related.

"Increased alcohol consumption and ageing seem to predict violence, although these risk factors work in opposite directions, and only concern individuals who have been given by nature a high-activity variant of MAOA.

"People react quite differently to acute alcohol exposure. Most individuals become relaxed and talkative, while some – particularly people who are introverted while sober – become expansively extroverted and aggressive."

The research, published is online and will appear in the March issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

Mr Tikkanen said violent people with high-activity MAOA could be helped to control their behaviour with coaching and possibly psychopharmacological drug treatments, he said.

"Perhaps we could increase the efficacy of addition rehabilitation by focusing resources particularly on younger heavy-drinking, high-activity MAOA individuals," he said.

Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, said: "Clearly, better identification and support for offenders with alcohol problems can help cut reoffending and improve rehabilitation. However, this opportunity seems to be missed, as provision of services to offenders with alcohol problems still falls far short of support received by those with drug problems. With 15 per cent of male prisoners suffering from severe alcohol problems or dependency, inadequate treatment means that most of these are not given a chance to tackle their addiction."

Original here