Role of Genotype in the Cycle of Violence in Maltreated Children

@article{Caspi2002RoleOG,
  title={Role of Genotype in the Cycle of Violence in Maltreated Children},
  author={Avshalom Caspi and Joseph L. McClay and Terrie E. Moffitt and Jonathan S Mill and Judy L. Martin and Ian W. Craig and Alan H. Taylor and Richie Poulton},
  journal={Science},
  year={2002},
  volume={297},
  pages={851 - 854}
}
We studied a large sample of male children from birth to adulthood to determine why some children who are maltreated grow up to develop antisocial behavior, whereas others do not. A functional polymorphism in the gene encoding the neurotransmitter-metabolizing enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) was found to moderate the effect of maltreatment. Maltreated children with a genotype conferring high levels of MAOA expression were less likely to develop antisocial problems. These findings may partly… 
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Objective: Childhood maltreatment is a potent risk factor for subsequent aggressive and criminal behavior. A recent study suggested that the relationship between maltreatment and antisocial behavior…

Interaction between MAO-A genotype and maltreatment in the risk for conduct disorder: failure to confirm in adolescent patients.

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The results of the current study do not support the hypothesis that a polymorphism in the gene encoding MAO-A contributes to the genetic risk for conduct disorder.
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