Abstract
Endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids bind to central cannabinoid receptors to control a multitude of behavioral functions, including aggression. The first main objective of this review is to dissect components of the endocannabinoid system, including cannabinoid 1 and cannabinoid 2 receptors; the endogenous cannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol; and the indirect cannabinoid modulators fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol lipase; that have shown abnormalities in basic research studies investigating mechanisms of aggression. While most human research has concluded that the active ingredient of marijuana, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, tends to dampen rather than provoke aggression in acute doses, recent evidence supports a relationship between the ingestion of synthetic cannabinoids and emergence of violent or aggressive behavior. Thus, another objective is to evaluate the emerging clinical data. This paper also discusses the relationship between prenatal and perinatal exposure to cannabis as well as use of cannabis in adolescence on aggressive outcomes. A final objective of the paper is to discuss endocannabinoid abnormalities in psychotic and affective disorders, as well as clinically aggressive populations, such as borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. With regard to the former condition, decreased anandamide metabolites have been reported in the cerebrospinal fluid, while some preliminary evidence suggests that fatty acid amide hydrolase genetic polymorphisms are linked to antisocial personality disorder and impulsive-antisocial psychopathic traits. To summarize, this paper will draw upon basic and clinical research to explain how the endocannabinoid system may contribute to the genesis of aggressive behavior.
Highlights
Aggression is a multifaceted behavior that leads to harm toward the self or others and whose genesis can be traced to a multiplicity of individual and environmental factors
We highlight the available evidence pointing to alterations of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), two psychiatric conditions characterized by high levels of violence
This review has explored the bench to bedside work highlighting the role of endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids in relation to aggressive behavior
Summary
Aggression is a multifaceted behavior that leads to harm toward the self or others and whose genesis can be traced to a multiplicity of individual and environmental factors. Another study (Van Ree et al, 1984) examined social contact behavior in isolated rats that had received low or high doses of THC injected intraperitoneally or cannabidiol, a phytocannabinoid derived from cannabis that is not an addictive drug but may have anxiolytic effects (Crippa et al, 2011). While higher doses of THC (10 mg/kg) had a suppressive effect on social interactions, lower doses (1 mg/kg) decreased aggressive behavior, including fighting, kicking, or biting.
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