<p>I had a similar experience 8 years ago, I felt rage that I have never felt before. The day I nearly punched the wall, I understood my completely uncharacteristic behaviour was induced by the drug. Then I asked everyone close if they had noticed recent changes in me, they had. I talked to my doctor and I weaned off of it, my behaviour returned to normal and now at nearly 50 years of age, this was the only such brief period of episodal rage I have ever experienced. It was intense, I've often thought of the poor souls who have comitted suicide and their loved ones who hypothesize the drug is to blame. I would believe it, given my experience.</p>

<p>I am female, have the low MAOA activity gene (homozygous), I also possess 2 homozygous mutations in COMT genes, these affect (slow) degradation of neurotransmitters. I also possess mutations related to dopamine receptor inefficiency, decreased BH4 production (precursor to dopamine), and folate metabolism (precursor to BH4). I am naturally and consstently one of the most even tempered people I know, I have rarely even experienced PMS and my reproductive years will soon be over. Interestly, the MAOA mutation I have has been called the "happiness" gene for woman (not-so for men, infact it's the opposite). I have 2 copies, resulting in even more self-reported happiness in day to day life, which is true for me, but was not for my time on the drug when I had anger, aggression, and rage, like never before. Incidently, it did work for me in giving up the cigerettes.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-19T03:39:18.907Z
i presume that you've had commercial genotyping done, can you tell me which company?
faustus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-20T09:36:41.417Z
Welcome to Psychology.SE.  Purely anecdotal answers are not accepted on this site due to its scientific nature.   Can you provide any studies or other scientific literature (with full references) which support the fact that the genetics you spoke of lead to a genetic cause for aggression or violence?
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-18T23:36:27.097Z
2018-11-18T23:36:27.097Z
Mandy
<p>Anecdotally, there are reports of varenicline causing agression, but larger studies tended towards the finding of no effect over controls.</p>

<p>This got me into thinking about possible genetic polymorphisms that are implicated in aggression. Varenicline acts as a partial agonist of α4β2-nicotinic receptors -- maybe if you did a study of a prison population, you'd find those some polymorphism in this receptor among those incarcerated for a violent crime? (There isn't).</p>

<p><strong>More broadly, are there any good candidate genes implicated in aggression/violence?</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-30T14:30:04.267Z
A start for reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetics_of_aggression/Molecular_genetics
Arsak
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-06T09:23:43.530Z
There are hints, that aggression and anger is related to the signal transmission in the serotonergic and dopaminergic system. One of the most researched molecules is COMT and MAO-A.
Regarding the dopaminergic system f.e. the rs907094 SNP regarding DARP-32 is linked to antisocial behavior and higher Anger-Scores on the ANPS by Panksepp (see Reuter, M. et a. (2009). The biological basis of anger: associations with the gene coding for DARPP-32 (PPP1R1B) and with amygdala volume. Behavioural brain research, 202(2), 179-183.)
Maybe that´ll give you a starting point.
bucky
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-20T09:38:14.310Z
We work differently to most SE sites, where we have a strict policy that all questions should [show evidence of prior research](https://psychology.meta.stackexchange.com/q/993). Please help us to help you and [edit] your question to provide more information on what you have read on this subject, what made you ask this question, and any problems you are having understanding your research. If you found nothing, what did you Google?
Chris Rogers
<psychopharmacology><genetics><aggression><nicotine>
What genetic polymorphisms are linked to aggression or violence?
faustus
# What genetic polymorphisms are linked to aggression or violence?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-30)

Anecdotally, there are reports of varenicline causing agression, but larger studies tended towards the finding of no effect over controls.

This got me into thinking about possible genetic polymorphisms that are implicated in aggression. Varenicline acts as a partial agonist of α4β2-nicotinic receptors -- maybe if you did a study of a prison population, you'd find those some polymorphism in this receptor among those incarcerated for a violent crime? (There isn't).

**More broadly, are there any good candidate genes implicated in aggression/violence?**

**Tags:** psychopharmacology, genetics, aggression, nicotine

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: A start for reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetics_of_aggression/Molecular_genetics  
> **username_2**: There are hints, that aggression and anger is related to the signal transmission in the serotonergic and dopaminergic system. One of the most researched molecules is COMT and MAO-A. Regarding the dopaminergic system f.e. the rs907094 SNP regarding DARP-32 is linked to antisocial behavior and higher Anger-Scores on the ANPS by Panksepp (see Reuter, M. et a. (2009). The biological basis of anger: associations with the gene coding for DARPP-32 (PPP1R1B) and with amygdala volume. Behavioural brain research, 202(2), 179-183.) Maybe that´ll give you a starting point.  
> **username_3**: We work differently to most SE sites, where we have a strict policy that all questions should [show evidence of prior research](https://psychology.meta.stackexchange.com/q/993). Please help us to help you and [edit] your question to provide more information on what you have read on this subject, what made you ask this question, and any problems you are having understanding your research. If you found nothing, what did you Google?  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-11-18. Score: -1

I had a similar experience 8 years ago, I felt rage that I have never felt before. The day I nearly punched the wall, I understood my completely uncharacteristic behaviour was induced by the drug. Then I asked everyone close if they had noticed recent changes in me, they had. I talked to my doctor and I weaned off of it, my behaviour returned to normal and now at nearly 50 years of age, this was the only such brief period of episodal rage I have ever experienced. It was intense, I've often thought of the poor souls who have comitted suicide and their loved ones who hypothesize the drug is to blame. I would believe it, given my experience.

I am female, have the low MAOA activity gene (homozygous), I also possess 2 homozygous mutations in COMT genes, these affect (slow) degradation of neurotransmitters. I also possess mutations related to dopamine receptor inefficiency, decreased BH4 production (precursor to dopamine), and folate metabolism (precursor to BH4). I am naturally and consstently one of the most even tempered people I know, I have rarely even experienced PMS and my reproductive years will soon be over. Interestly, the MAOA mutation I have has been called the "happiness" gene for woman (not-so for men, infact it's the opposite). I have 2 copies, resulting in even more self-reported happiness in day to day life, which is true for me, but was not for my time on the drug when I had anger, aggression, and rage, like never before. Incidently, it did work for me in giving up the cigerettes.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: i presume that you've had commercial genotyping done, can you tell me which company?  
> **username_3**: Welcome to Psychology.SE.  Purely anecdotal answers are not accepted on this site due to its scientific nature.   Can you provide any studies or other scientific literature (with full references) which support the fact that the genetics you spoke of lead to a genetic cause for aggression or violence?  

---

