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Biomedical subjects

A J Bond

Publications and source records attributed to A J Bond.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The effect of tryptophan depletion and enhancement on subjective and behavioural aggression in normal male subjects.

In order to investigate the link between aggression and 5-HT, we looked at effects of changes in plasma tryptophan on healthy male subjects. Twenty-four with high trait aggression (H) and 24 with low (L) drank an amino acid mixture with (T+) or without (T-) tryptophan. These caused plasma tryptophan enhancement and depletion, respectively, at 4.5 h. Group H subjects given T- became more angry, aggressive, annoyed, hostile and quarrelsome on subjective measures, whereas those given T+ responded in the opposite way. On a behavioural measure of aggression, group H subjects responded more aggressively after T- than T+. In contrast, there was no consistent effect on subjective or behavioural aggression in group L subjects. Feelings of well-being in group H were decreased by T- and increased by T+. In group L, T+ reduced feelings of well-being, possibly due to the sedative effect of tryptophan in this group, which correlated positively with plasma tryptophan concentration. Changes in plasma tryptophan are probably followed by changes in central 5-HT turnover. We conclude that, in those with pre-existing aggressive traits, acute falls in central 5-HT can cause increased subjective and objective aggression, while rises can have the opposite effect. The absence of changes in a low aggressive group suggests that the primary effect may be on impulsivity, possibly mediated by 5-HT1a receptors, expressing underlying aggressive traits. The findings on mood changes provide support for earlier reports of a lowering of mood with tryptophan depletion.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Assessment of attentional bias and mood in users and non-users of anabolic-androgenic steroids.

Forty-six male strength athletes took part in a study to measure the effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids on attentional bias to aggressive cues. They were 16 current users of anabolic steroids, 16 former users and 14 non-users. Testosterone, deca-durabolin and anadrol were the three most commonly taken steroids during the last cycle. Users generally took 2-3 drugs during each cycle; the average cycle lasted 8-11 weeks and they had completed 3-4 cycles. The subjects completed visual analogue scales of current feelings and were presented with a modified Stroop Colour Word Conflict Task containing sets of neutral, verbally aggressive and physically aggressive words. Current users tended to rate themselves more negatively. Users took longer than former users to name the colours of all word sets but there were no significant differences between word sets. Therefore, attentional bias did not differ between groups but current steroid use produced subtle mood changes and slowed performance compared to users not currently taking steroids.

Affect↗
PubMed1993

Fowkes et al's "Serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and aggression in the general population".

"A higher than expected number of violent deaths and suicides in coronary prevention trials has provoked interest in the possibility that low serum cholesterol concentrations are associated in the general population with personality characteristics predisposing to aggressive and suicidal behaviour. We have investigated this possibility in the Edinburgh Artery Study. We measured serum lipid concentrations in blood samples taken from fasting subjects and assessed personality characteristics on the Bedford Foulds Personality Deviance Scales in a random sample of 1,592 men and women aged 55-74 years, selected from age-sex registers of ten general practices in Edinburgh. Serum cholesterol concentration was not significantly associated with aggression in men, but it was associated in multivariate analysis (though not univariate analysis) with denigratory attitudes towards others among women. However, serum triglyceride concentration was related, especially in men, to hostile acts (r = 0.13, P < 0.001) and domineering attitude (r = 0.12, P < 0.001) independently of age, total and HDL cholesterol, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption. Subjects taking part in prevention trials have higher triglyceride concentrations than the general population and the relation between serum triglyceride concentration and aggression merits further investigation."

Aged↗
PubMed1993

The combination of alprazolam and alcohol on behavioral aggression.

Forty-eight moderate social drinkers were assigned to one of four treatments: alprazolam (1 mg) and alcohol (0.5 g/kg); alprazolam (1 mg) and placebo drink; placebo capsule and alcohol (0.5 g/kg); and placebo capsule and placebo drink. Breath alcohol concentrations and ratings of mood and intoxication were completed at 90, 150 and 210 minutes post-drug (45, 105 and 165 minutes post-alcohol). Subjects competed in a competitive reaction time task at 105 minutes post-drug during which psychophysiological measures were simultaneously monitored. Active treatments increased sedation and intoxication and the task increased feelings of hostility and anxiety in all subjects. Aggressive responding increased in all groups in response to provocation but some stress response dampening was shown after both alcohol and alprazolam on the psychophysiological measures and after alprazolam on subjective ratings of anxiety. The combination of alprazolam and alcohol increased behavioral aggression more than would have been predicted from the sum of the single effects, confirming clinical reports of behavioral dyscontrol.

Aggression↗
PubMed1992

The effects of alprazolam alone and combined with alcohol on central integrative activity.

The effects of alprazolam 1 mg both alone and in combination with 0.5 g/kg of alcohol were examined on self-ratings of intoxication and measures of central and peripheral activity such as EEG, auditory evoked response, tremor at 90, 150 and 210 min post drug. Forty-eight healthy volunteers were assigned randomly to 4 independent groups who received: alprazolam and placebo drink, alprazolam and alcohol, placebo capsule and alcohol, placebo capsule and placebo drink respectively. Alprazolam decreased the amplitudes of the 3 potentials of the evoked response, decreased activity in the 8-13 Hz and increased activity in the 13.5-26 Hz wavebands of the EEG and decreased the frequency at which fusion was perceived. Alcohol prolonged reaction time and increased tremor. The effects were not always additive and alprazolam was dominant in the combination.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Pharmacological manipulation of aggressiveness and impulsiveness in healthy volunteers.

1. Pharmacological treatments used to control disruptive and aggressive behaviour in patient groups are discussed. 2. Techniques developed to elicit aggression in human volunteers in the laboratory are outlined. 3. Pharmacological manipulations tested on these techniques are described and both their relevance to the clinic and directions for future work are discussed.

Aggression↗
PubMed1982

Interaction between effects of caffeine and lorazepam in performance tests and self-ratings.

In 18 normal volunteers, lorazepam (2.5 mg) compared with placebo significantly impaired performance in a verbal learning task, in the digit-symbol substitution test, and in symbol copying and number cancellation tasks. These impairments were found equally in subjects with high and low state anxiety and in subjects with high and low trait anxiety. Caffeine citrate (125 to 500 mg) significantly improved performance on the digit-symbol substitution test when given alone and reduced the lorazepam impairment. In the symbol copying test caffeine counteracted the lorazepam impairment. Lorazepam produced a significant loss of appetite and made the subjects feel significantly more dizzy, physically and mentally tired, withdrawn and tranquil, and significantly less anxious. Caffeine citrate (500 mg) counteracted the lorazepam effect of reducing anxiety and making the subjects feel more relaxed.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Comparative effects of diazepam and buspirone on subjective feelings, psychological tests and the EEG.

12 normal subjects were tested on a battery of tests both before and 1, 3 and 5 h after 10 mg diazepam, 10 and 20 mg buspirone hydrochloride and a placebo. The test included self-ratings of mood and bodily symptoms, the electroencephalogram, reaction time, tapping, digit symbol substitution and the symbol copying test. Diazepam showed a clear profile of action, producing EEG changes, pronounced sedation and psychological impairment. Buspirone had less effect on the EEG and produced less cognitive impairment. Its sedative effects were similar to those of diazepam but it also produced some dysphoria in the higher dose.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1979

Impaired performance and sedation after a single dose of lorazepam.

In a double-blind cross-over study using normal student volunteers, the effects of 1 and 2.5 mg lorazepam on self-rated mood and bodily symptoms, as well as performance in a number of tests were assessed. Both doses significantly increased self ratings of physical and mental sedation, the effects being more marked 4 h after drug administration than after 1 h. Lorazepam impaired simple reaction time, verbal learning, number cancellation, symbol copying and performance in the digit-symbol substitution test. The impairments were greater with the 2.5 mg dose and were more marked 4 h after drug administration than after 1 h.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Plasma concentrations of benzodiazepines.

1. Twenty anxious patients were treated with medazepam, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, amylobarbitone and placebo, each given in flexible dosage for 2-4 weeks. 2. At the end of each treatment, a series of clinical, physiological and behavioural variables were measured and plasma samples were taken for estimation of the appropriate drug and metabolite concentrations. 3. Nordiazepam was shown to be an important metabolite of both medazepam and diazepam: the ratio of medazepam to noradiazepam was 0.14 and the ratio of diazepam to nordiazepam following diazepam administration was 0.72. 4. No significant correlations were found between the plasma concentrations of any of the treatments and the clinical ratings or behavioural measures. 5. Some relationship was shown between levels of medazepam and its physiological effects.

Amobarbital↗
PubMed1975

Residual effects of flunitrazepam.

1 Twelve normal subjects were tested on a large battery of tests after a hypnotic dose of flunitrazepam(1 or 2 mg) and a placebo. Psychological tests were given 12 h after the drug and physiological tests 12, 15 and 18 h after the drug. 2 The tests included self-ratings of hypnotic effects and mood, the electroencephalogram, the auditory electroencephalographic evoked response, skin conductance, tapping, card-sorting and the symbol copying test. 3 Both doses of flunitrazepam were effective hypnotics according to the ratings, with an anxiolytic effect the following day. The EEG was significantly altered up to 18 h after the drug and the behavioural tests showed a motor impairment 12 h after drug administration. 4 Nearly all changes displayed linear dose-related trends.

Adult↗