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Zolmitriptan and human aggression: interaction with alcohol

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Abstract

Rationale

The serotonin 1B/D (5-HT1B/D) receptor has shown potential as a target for decreasing aggression. The 5-HT1B/D agonist zolmitriptan's ability to reduce aggressive behavior in humans and its interaction with the well-known aggression-enhancing drug alcohol were examined.

Objectives

Our objective was to investigate zolmitriptan's potential to modify human aggression in a laboratory paradigm across a range of alcohol doses. Alcohol has been consistently associated with aggression and violence, thus we hoped to expand current understanding of alcohol's role in aggressive behavior via manipulation of the serotonin (5-HT) system.

Methods

Eleven social drinkers, seven male, were recruited to participate in a research study lasting 3–4 weeks. Aggression was measured using the point-subtraction aggression paradigm (PSAP), a laboratory model widely used in human aggression studies. Subjects were administered 5-mg zolmitriptan and placebo capsules along with alcohol doses of 0.0, 0.4 and 0.8 g/kg in a within-subject, counterbalanced dosing design. Data were analyzed as the ratio of aggressive/monetary-earning responses, to account for possible changes in overall motor function due to alcohol.

Results

There was a significant alcohol by zolmitriptan interaction on the aggressive/monetary response ratio. Specifically, compared to placebo, zolmitriptan decreased the aggressive/monetary ratio at the 0.4- and 0.8-g/kg alcohol doses.

Conclusions

A 5-mg dose of zolmitriptan effectively reduced alcohol-related aggression in an acute dosing protocol, demonstrating an interaction of 5-HT and alcohol in human aggressive behavior.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (R01 DA 003166 to SDL). We thank Veronica Aldana, Jennifer Edwards, Margarita de Vega, Irshad Prasla, Laura Madden-Fuentes and Alice Chi for their technical contributions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, Houston, USA

    Joshua L. Gowin, Alan C. Swann, F. Gerard Moeller & Scott D. Lane

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  1. Joshua L. Gowin
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  2. Alan C. Swann
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  3. F. Gerard Moeller
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  4. Scott D. Lane
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Correspondence to Scott D. Lane.

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Supplemental Table

Per session means (±SEM) for physiolgical measures (blood pressure, heart rate and breath-alcohol concentration) and measures of subjective effects (PCAG scale or the ARCI). See text for details of each measure. (PDF 29.4kb)

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Gowin, J.L., Swann, A.C., Moeller, F.G. et al. Zolmitriptan and human aggression: interaction with alcohol. Psychopharmacology 210, 521–531 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-010-1851-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-010-1851-6

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