A preliminary analysis of aggressive behavior under oxytocin dose

Acute administration of oxytocin in human subjects has been shown to promote prosocial behaviors such as trust, generosity, and cooperation. Prosocial behaviors stand in contrast to antisocial behavior such as aggression. Aggression is an enduring problematic social behavior often resulting in deleterious consequences to criminal justice and public health systems. Aggression is prominent in antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and exacerbated by the presence of a substance use disorder (SUD). The goal of this project is to investigate the acute effects of oxytocin (across three dose levels: 12IU, 24IU, and 48IU) on aggression in adult human subjects at high risk for aggression: those with ASPD and SUD. We measured subject's aggressive responding using the Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm (PSAP), a well-validated laboratory measure of aggression, using a within-subjects counterbalanced design. The hypothesis is that OT administration will decrease human aggressive behavior compared to placebo. Preliminary data suggest that aggressive responding has differential effects, based on subject's baseline (pre-dose) level of aggressive responding. Specifically, subjects with low levels of baseline aggressive behavior show an increase in aggressive behavior at the 24IU dose followed by decreased responding at 48IU. Changes in aggressive behavior did not correspond with increased physiological arousal or mood.