Gene-Childhood Maltreatment-Adult anti-social behavior

Case Study in Translation of Research into Popular Accounts

Instead of a substantive statement

Caspi, A., J. McClay, et al. (2002). "Role of Genotype in the Cycle of Violence in Maltreated Children." Science 297(5582): 851-854.
Stokstad, E. (2002). "Violent Effects of Abuse Tied to Gene." Science 297: 752.
Radford, T. (2002). "Scientists identify gene link to violence." The Guardian (London).

During class (5 Sept.) the subgroups reported different emphases in the 3 versions of the Caspi & Moffitt research, but (in the time we had) we didn't note any systematic trend from nuanced account to black-and-white. The Guardian newspaper article (except for its headline) represented both sides. It seems that the authors in each case know the issue is hot and cover themselves in some way -- Caspi & Moffitt's abstract and introduction emphasized high MAOA moderating the effect of maltreatment rather than low MAOA causing violence. Stokstad brought in several outsider commentators. Radford mixed genetic determinist sentences ("violence tends to be male rather than female [becuase] the gen is found on the X chromosome") with criticisms ("'This research can easily play into the tendency to fix social problems by medicalising them'").

We return to Caspi & Moffitt's work in session 12. In the meantime, the annotated references below indicate how the discussion has evolved and spread since the 2002 article.

These readings also allows us to think about how we read popular and technical pieces. When do we follow up on newspaper reports and delve into the details? When we read technical pieces do we make notes on words (esp. statistical concepts) that we're not familiar with so we can follow up later? Do we look for responses to technical pieces so we can get specialists' help in seeing which issues should be scrutinised?

One reading tactic is to move from abstract to conclusion to introduction to results to methods. Each stage orients our reading -- what do we need to pay most attention to -- and this motivates us to keep reading when we might run out of steam if we simply plugged along linearly.

Annotated additions by students

(Make additions in alphabetical order by author's name and add your initials at the end of your entry.)

Arehart-Treichel, J. (2006). Gene variant in abused boys linked to antisocial behavior. Psychiatry News, 41 (23), 26. Retrieved on August 16, 2007 from http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/41/23/26

This is a short news item in the newspaper of the American Psychiatric Association and as such one would expect that the report of a study published in a peer-reviewed journal would be less emotive and simplified than in the popular press. The article reports on a study by Kim-Cohen et al. in the October 2006 issue of Molecular Psychiatry that “reported the association once again” (referring to the Caspi et al. findings); yet further on it was revealed that a significant effect was only found between 7-year olds with the “short” MAO-A gene and attention-hyperactivity results. A meta-analysis was conducted, however, that did find a statistically significant interaction between the “short” variant and maltreatment in predicting antisocial behavior (but see next article about this). The article does contain direct quotes from the lead author, Kim-Cohen, in which she cautions against “targeting preventive interventions for antisocial behavior based on a single genotype…”.(JC)

McNeal, A. (n.d.) How to Read a Scientific Research Paper--a four-step guide for students and for faculty. Retrieved on August 23, 2007 from http://helios.hampshire.edu/~apmNS/design/RESOURCES/HOW_READ.html
Good advice for how to systematically approach reading a technical or scientific article with little or no background in the topic. The section for faculty is also helpful for students as it shows how to “chunk” different parts of the paper in order to reduce anxiety and concentrate on the type of information provided in each part (i.e., introduction, methods, results, discussion). (JC)

Moran, Mark. (2006). Jury Still Out on Impact of Genes on Trial Verdicts. Psychiatric News, 41 (21),12. Retrieved from
http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/41/21/12 on August 17, 2007.
This is a very interesting article discussing the findings of Avshalom Caspi, et al, regarding genetics and predisposition to violence. Moran reports findings from Paul Appelbaum, M.D., chair of APA’s Council on Psychiatry and Law, who discusses criminals’ claim that genetics is responsible for their criminal behavior. These findings are slowly making way into the legal system; not necessarily eliminating the crime, but possibly affecting sentencing. Appelbaum further states that the insanity plea is already accepted as a means of defense so why not genetics? The problem arises in that mental illnesses may be treatable whereas genetics is not. He further states that this type of defense may actually harm the client in that if a person is “labeled” as having a genetic alteration predisposing them to violence, then perhaps they should have a harsher sentence. Concerns were addressed such as screening children that might label them as antisocial. This in turn could lead to damaging effects on self esteem and behavior.(SA).

Morris, C., Sen, A., Pierce, K. & Beckwith, J. (2007). Deconstructing violence. GeneWatch, 20 (2): March 20, 2007. Council for Responsible Genetics. Retrieved on August 17, 2007 from http://www.gene-watch.org/genewatch/articles/20-2Beckwith.html

This is an excellent article that manages to be comprehensive and explanatory with regard to the technical issues coming out of MAO-A research, yet still eminently readable and understandable to the non-specialist. The authors begin with a brief historical overview of criminal behavior and heredity, showing that this topic has always aroused great interest – even as early as 1889. They consider the history of MAO-A research and follow up with a detailed look not only at Caspi, but also the studies that have followed it, both replicating and non-replicating. There is a very strong and cogently argued section on MAO-A and society that lays out the dangers of re-packaging scientific findings (usually without their caveats and “limitations of the present study” verbiage) for the popular press, concluding that without careful reporting there could be a drift once again to the genetic side of the genes and environment correlation. Also recommended in this issue of GeneWatch: Criminal Genes, by Evan Balaban and Richard Lewontin. (JC)

Wasserman, David JD (2004) Is There Value In Identifying Individual Genetic Predispositions To Violence? Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, Volume 32 pp24-33
Wasserman, reflecting on the work of Caspi et al, remarks that there are confounding variables and alternate explanations that Caspi et al., did not rule out. He adds that the effects of high MAOA levels in combating violence in the maltreated differs from all previous research; notably the findings of Brunner that high MAOA levels resulted in low serotonin levels associated with lack of impulse control. Behavioral and psychological traits are likely to be affected by a large number of genes (polygeny) and each of those genes is likely to affect many different aspects of development in a variety of direct and indirect ways (pleitropy).
The author raises provocative questions on the identification and treatment of predisposed individuals . Do we test all children for the presence of MAOA or do we just test children subjected to maltreatment in their homes? Is any testing ethical, moral, and is it financially feasible? If we proceed with treatment, do we use environmental or medical & pharmacological intervention? Do we treat the parents with tools like anger management courses or do we medically intervene with protective MAOA for the children who are maltreated.. Intervention by the state could present many problems such as the threshold for violence would have to be lowered. This would cause many political, legal, and moral problems and would target the poor who are more apt to come to the attention of the state.. Intervention could also lead to selective implantation of embryos. This could mean that abusing parents can choose the children they can mistreat with impunity.. The author advocates creating a just, decent, and humane society as a means of breaking the cycle of violence as opposed to targeted intervention of behavioral scientists.(JG)

Young, S. E., Smolen, A., Hewitt, J. K., Haberstick, B. C., et al. (2006). Interaction between MAO-A genotype and maltreatment in the risk for conduct disorder: failure to confirm in adolescent patients. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(6), 1019-1025. Retrieved August 22, 2007, from ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source database.

Young, et al. investigated a cohort of male adolescents who had been referred to residential or intensive day treatment for significant conduct and substance abuse problems with the aim of replicating the Caspi et al. 2002 study (which found a genetic-environmental interaction between maltreatment and a specific form of the MAO-A gene). This article reports that, like Caspi, they found a significant effect between maltreatment and conduct disorder, but not between maltreatment and either the “high risk” low activity MAO-A variant or the “low risk” high activity variant. The study presents us with opportunities to compare and contrast the subjects, assessment measures, and statistical analyses between Caspi and Young in order to begin to understand what (and how) evidence was provided to support their respective conclusions. (JC)

Initial questions based on reading of primers

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