Background
A functional promoter polymorphism in monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) has been implicated
as a moderating factor in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and later
adolescent and adult antisocial behavior. Despite wide interest in this hypothesis,
results remain mixed from the few attempts at replication.
Methods
Regression-based analyses were conducted to test for a genotype-environment interaction
using self-reported physical abuse and MAOA genotype to predict later antisocial behavior
and arrests for violence by participants in the National Youth Survey Family Study.
We also examined the interaction using a measure of violent victimization. The analysis
sample included 277 Caucasian male respondents, aged 11–15 in 1976, who provided buccal
swab DNA samples and who were successfully genotyped for the variable number tandem
repeat (VNTR) in the MAOA promoter using polymerase chain reaction.
Results
Maltreatment by a parent during adolescence was a risk factor for adolescent and adult
antisocial and violence related behavioral problems. Tests for the main effect of
MAOA and a MAOA-maltreatment interaction were nonsignificant. Similar results were
obtained using the measure of adolescent violent victimization.
Conclusions
Findings from this general population sample could not confirm the hypothesis that
MAOA moderates the relationship between adolescent maltreatment and adolescent or
adult antisocial behavior.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
December 13,
2005
Received in revised form:
December 13,
2005
Received:
October 18,
2005
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
