Abstract
Various factors cause aggression, which can be related to imbalance of T3 and T4 hormones, which can act as neurotransmitters and are reported to be elevated during aggression. This indicates changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis that cause long-term changes in aggressive behaviour, especially in criminals. Moreover, mental and behavioural disorders possibly occur in individuals with impairment in thyroid hormone balance. The main rationale for this study was to asses if high T3, high T4, and low TSH hormones may have an effect on aggression-related crime tendency. Furthermore, the study aimed to measure levels of thyroid hormones in prisoners and to examine relationships of the hormone levels with crime rates. Our study was conducted in Ankara Sincan Closed Prisons. The study group consisted of 208 male volunteers who were imprisoned and the control group included 82 male volunteers who were not imprisoned. Prisoners in the study group were divided into two groups: those who committed aggression-related crime (Group A, n = 96) and prisoners convicted of other crimes (Group B, n = 112). Pulse rates, T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, and theT3/T4 ratio were measured in these prisoners. Data were analysed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test and chi-square Fisher's exact test to test for any statistically significant differences. Results showed that toxic goitre rates, T3 and T4 values, and pulse rates were significantly higher in Group A than in the control group. Significant increase in T3 and T4 levels and the presence of toxic goitre were associated with aggression-related crime. These examinations should be performed on prisoners in general, especially those convicted of violent crimes. Additional rehabilitation and research programs should also be developed for such patients.
Highlights
Genetic causes, hormones, environmental factors, and some diseases may contribute to aggression in individuals
Studies have reported that one out of every five people in Turkey has goitre and approximately 0.1% of them have toxic goitre [21, 22]. erefore, there is a possibility of serious mental and social problems due to toxic goitre. e main rationale for this study was to asses if high T3, high T4, and low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) hormones may have an effect on aggression-related crime tendency. erefore, we investigated the association of thyroid hormone levels, pulse rate, TSH, T3/T4 ratio, and presence of toxic goitre with crime type in prisoners
Toxic goitre examinations and pulse rate measurements were performed. en, the prisoners in the study group were further divided into two subgroups: group was subdivided into aggression-related offenders (Group A) (n 96), consisting of prisoners convicted of aggression-related crimes including murder, looting, intentional assault, assault, violence in institutions, penetrating tool violence, torture, torment, forced rape, sexual assault, and damage to property, and Group B (n 112), consisting of prisoners convicted of crimes of other types not related to aggression, including smuggling, theft, fraud, drug trafficking, misleading tender, embezzlement, and bribe
Summary
Hormones, environmental factors, and some diseases may contribute to aggression in individuals. In the criminal recidivist group, where individuals had psychopathy and aggression related to antisocial personality disorder (APD) according to the “Karolinska Scale of Personality,” T3 level and MAO activity were higher than those in the nonrecidivist and control groups. Individuals with mental and behavioural disorders may have impaired thyroid hormone level balance. In a controlled study conducted by Sinai et al, thyroid hormone levels in 57 patients with borderline bipolar disorder (BPD) were compared with those of a control group. A study conducted by Radhakrishnan et al showed impairment in thyroid hormone balance in many mental illnesses ranging from BPD to schizophrenia [19]. Erefore, we investigated the association of thyroid hormone levels, pulse rate, TSH, T3/T4 ratio, and presence of toxic goitre with crime type in prisoners Studies have reported that one out of every five people in Turkey has goitre and approximately 0.1% of them have toxic goitre [21, 22]. erefore, there is a possibility of serious mental and social problems due to toxic goitre. e main rationale for this study was to asses if high T3, high T4, and low TSH hormones may have an effect on aggression-related crime tendency. erefore, we investigated the association of thyroid hormone levels, pulse rate, TSH, T3/T4 ratio, and presence of toxic goitre with crime type in prisoners
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