Social behaviors are key components of reproduction, because they are essential for successful fertilization. Social behaviors, such as courtship, mating, and aggression, are strongly associated with sex steroids, such as testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone. Secretion of sex steroids from the gonads is regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in vertebrates. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a pivotal hypothalamic neuropeptide that stimulates gonadotropin release from the pituitary. In recent years, the role of neuropeptides containing the C-terminal Arg-Phe-NH2 (RFamide peptides) has been emphasized in vertebrate reproduction. In particular, two key RFamide peptides, kisspeptin and gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH), emerged as critical accelerator and suppressor of gonadotropin secretion. Kisspeptin stimulates GnRH release by directly acting on GnRH neurons, whereas GnIH inhibits gonadotropin release by inhibiting kisspeptin, GnRH neurons, or pituitary gonadotropes. These neuropeptides can regulate social behavior by regulating the HPG axis. However, distribution of neuronal fibers of GnRH, kisspeptin, and GnIH neurons is not limited within the hypothalamus, and the existence of extrahypothalamic neuronal fibers suggests direct control of social behavior within the brain. It has traditionally been shown that central administration of GnRH can stimulate female sexual behavior in rats. Recently, it was shown that Kiss1, one of the paralogs of kisspeptin peptide family, regulates fear responses in zebrafish and GnIH inhibits sociosexual behavior in birds. Here, we highlight recent findings regarding the role of GnRH, kisspeptin, and GnIH in the regulation of social behaviors in fish, birds, and mammals and discuss their importance in future biological and biomedical research.
Students nowadays in Malaysia and globally, prefer to consume caffeinated energy drink to stay up late to finish their daily task especially during exams or finishing their coursework. Despite the rising trends and aggressive marketing strategies aimed toward college students, there has been little research done on college students’ intake of caffeinated energy drinks and their impact on sleep quality such as the daytime sleepiness. Bad sleep quality is also significantly found more commonly in those with psychological distress which will then consequently affect students’ academic performances. This research studies about universities student pattern of consumption of caffeinated energy drink and how it affects their level of daytime sleepiness and level of psychological distress. In this research, The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to evaluate general level of daytime sleepiness and the capability to stay alert and awake during crucial moments of the day. While the level of psychological distress were measured using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), a self-administered screening instrument designed to detect current diagnosable mental disturbances and disorders. Research findings showed that there are generally higher usage of caffeinated energy drink in male, between 20 to 22 years old and active in any physical activity, among participants whom does not consume caffeinated energy drink, majority score CGPA between 3.00 to 3.50. Also, there are significance between the psychological distress and consumption of caffeinated energy drink, 86.3% whom does not consume caffeinated energy drink does not have psychological distress and between daytime sleepiness and psychological distress, about 71.8% daytime sleepers have psychological distress (p
Combining feeding appendage morphology and behavioural observation of the motion pattern of the feeding appendages clarified many aspects underlying the feeding processes of the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and the marine whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in aquaria. The food intake behaviour was video recorded during eating pellet food, and pieces of fresh squid and fish. While M. rosenbergiitook pellet one by one, L. vannamei picked up many pellets at one time and held them at the mouth with the 3rd maxilliped endopods and the 1st walking legs. Both species used the right chelate walking legs rather than the left walking legs to pick up the food. The 3rd walking legs of L. vannameiwere longest and heaviest among the chelate walking legs but their major role was not for feeding but for feeding contests often in the form of aggression. While M. rosenbergii easily crunched pellets by the mandibles, L. vannamei did not crunch pellets due to the softer and not so strong mandibles and frequently spat out them, indicating that the present hard pellets are not suitable for L. vannamei. Both the species kept a piece of elastic fresh squid or fish flesh at the mouth and tore the food into small pieces with the help of repeated pulling down motion of the 3rd maxilliped endopods. However, the mandible teeth of the two spices were not sharp enough to gnaw off the fibrous muscle in one bite. The 2nd and 3rd maxilliped endopods were used for holding food at the mouth and did not contribute to mastication of food. The 2nd and 3rd maxilliped exopods exhibited the horizontal fanning motion, which caused a unidirectional water flow moving backwards in the gill chamber (visualized with milk). The maxilliped exopods were found to contribute not to feeding but ventilation. Based on the results obtained, development of softer pellets was recommended for L. vannamei.
Stress induces various neurobiological responses and causes psychiatric disorders, including depression. Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) plays an important role in various functions of the brain, such as regulation of mood, anxiety and aggression, and dysregulation of MAO-A is observed in stress-related psychiatric disorders. This study addressed the question whether acute social stress induces changes to transcriptional and/or post-transcriptional regulation of MAO-A expression in the brain. Using male Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), we investigated whether acute social stress, induced by the presence of a dominant male fish, changes the expression of MAO-A. We measured gene expression of MAO-A by quantitative PCR, enzymatic activity of MAO-A by the luminescent method, and 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in the brain of socially stressed and control fish. Socially stressed males showed decreased MAO-A mRNA levels, consistent MAO-A enzymatic activity, increased 5-HT turnover in the brain, and elevated plasma cortisol levels, compared to controls. Our results suggest that acute social stress suppresses the transcription of MAO-A gene, enhances 5-HT metabolism but does not affect the production of MAO-A protein.
The larval parasitoid Verticia fasciventris Malloch (Diptera: Calliphoridae) develops in the head of soldiers of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes carbonarius (Hagen) (Isoptera: Termitidae). Morphological and behavioral changes in the host were evaluated and the termite castes and stages that were parasitized were identified. The larval emergence process is also described and possible mechanisms for the parasitoid fly's entry into the host body are discussed based on qualitative observations. Only a single larva per host was found. The mature larva pupated outside the host's body by exiting between the abdominal cerci. Parasitized soldiers possess a short and square-shaped head capsule, a pair of notably short mandibles, and a pair of 18-segmented antennae. Although parasitized soldiers were statistically less aggressive than healthy soldiers (P < 0.05), they expressed varying levels of aggression. Both minor and major soldiers can be parasitized and based on evidence from presoldiers, parasitization may begin during the precursor stages of soldiers. However, the stage at which parasitism first occurs has not been determined.
Abstract: A total of 307 Malaysian children and their parents were surveyed to ascertain the prevalence of mental health problems amongst urban primary and secondary school children. The results indicated that secondary school children report slightly higher rates of depressive symptoms, whereas primary school children report higher rates of social problems. There was also a discrepancy between child and parents reports of children’s emotions and behaviours. Children’s self-reports of aggressive behaviours where higher than their parents’ reports. Alternatively, parents reported lower levels of their childrens’ emotional problems, as compared with the childrens’ self-report. When gender was taken into consideration, females were reported to be more aggressive, withdrawn, and have more attention problems when compared with males.
A cross-sectional study was done to determine the prevalence of violence among 15-year-old adolescents and to identify associated protective or risk factors. The study involved 758 adolescents, 384 males and 3 74 females in the District of Kuala Terengganu and Besut, Terengganu. About 39.0% of adolescents under study were ever involved in violence. Percentage of girls were slightly higher 19.8% as compared to boys 19.2%. About 30% of the violent adolescents were from Kuala Terengganu and 9.1% from Besut. There was no significant relationship between violence and ethnic groups. Family total income above poverty line was significant protective towards violent behaviour < 0.01, OR 0.61, CI 0.45 - 0.82). Using univariate analysis, selected parental factors were protective against violence, such as good parental connection (p < 0.01), presence of parental regulation (p < 0.001), religious parents (p < 0.05) and parents who had dinner everyday with adolescents (p < 0.01, OR 0.59, CI 0.43 - 0.80). Adolescent who perceived to have interest in learning (p < 0.001, OR 0.32, CI 0.17 - 0.59) were less likely to involve in violence. Adolescent who felt well connected to their school (p < 0.01), and perceived themselves religious (P < 0.001) were more likely to be non-violent. Those who felt satisfied with day to day life were less likely to be involved in violence (p < 0.001, OR 0.52, CI 0.37 - 0.71). On the contrary, adolescents who ever had the feeling to run away from home (p < 0.001), had 3 times risk of violence, ever smoked cigarette had 2.4 times risk (p < 0.001, CI 1.55 - 3.69) ever been bullied by peers were 2.3 times risk (p < 0.001, CI 1.46 - 3.60) to violence. Same factors remained significant in multivariate analysis. Such factors were total family income below poverty line (p < 0.001, OR 1.82,CI 1.28 - 2.59), parental regulation (p < 0.05, OR 0.34, CI 0.13 - 0.89), had dinner every night and frequently (p < 0.01, OR 0. 62, CI 0.43 - 0.89), and adolescents' religiosity (p < 0.05, OR 0.81, CI 0.66 - 0.98) were protective, whereas ever· smoke cigarettes (12 < 0.01, OR 2.24,Cl 1.38 - 3.62), being bullied by peers (o < 0.01, OR 2. 09, C1 1.26 - 3.45), and frequently felt depressed previous one year (p < 0.001, OR 3.01,CI 1.79 - 5.07) were risk factors. The findings of the study will serve as baseline in planning adolescent health programme specifically to prevent violence behaviour from developing right from young, in the home and in the school environment.
Objective: This case report highlights the psychosocial complications of chronic mania in a mother and the role of CMHT in improving the condition’s outcome. Methods: We report a case of a Malay mother who had underlying chronic mania for 20 years. Results: She was aggressive and abusive towards her children causing tremendous trauma in them, had lost her child custody and almost lost her husband to another woman. Lithium with multiple psychosocial interventions delivered to the patient and her family had improved her mood symptoms significantly and improved the family’s quality of life. Conclusion: Chronic mania causes tremendously high illness burdens, and with extra care, the outcome of the condition can be improved. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 15 (2): July - December 2014: 217-219.
Objective: A sizable body of criminology literature has suggested that personality factors are critical to the development of aggressive behaviour. While research on personality focusing on aggression often revolves on "Eynseck Three Factor Model" and "Big Five Model", research on "Alternative Five Factor Model" (AFFM) is rather inadequate. Objective: The present study aimed to examine the association between five types of personality traits and subscales of aggression. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in two prisons in Peninsular Malaysia among 198 Malay adult male inmates. The participants were selected based on the purposive sampling method from those who were convicted for various types of crime. Two psychometric instruments adapted to the Malaysian context were used: Malay version of Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire-40-Cross Culture (ZKPQ-M-40-CC) and Aggression Questionnaire (AQ-M). Pearson correlation coefficient test was conducted to determine the association between five types of personality traits and subscales of aggression. Results: The results showed that there was a significant association between certain types of personality traits and subscales of aggression. The results were discussed in relation to theory and the context of crime. Conclusion: There is evidence that personality traits are linked to aggressive behaviour which may lead a person to commit offenses. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 15 (2): July - December 2014: 176-185.
Apart from environmental and social factors, psychological traits is largely linked with criminal and delinquent behaviour. The purpose of this article is to review four critical psychological traits of individuals that may lead to criminal behaviour in a nutshell. Methods: An archival research methodology was employed in this study where relevant search for literatures on these four psychological traits was made across search engines such as Google Scholar with relevant articles selected for this review. The literatures were microscopically reviewed in order to demonstrate the linkage between psychological traits and criminal behaviour. Results: Four psychological traits: personality trait, low selfcontrol, aggression behaviour, and cognitive distortion were chosen to address such linkages. All these four traits were discussed thoroughly in relation to crime and criminality contexts. Conclusion: It is crucial to understand the role of these traits and in-depth understanding of each psychological trait with relation of criminal behaviour offers an opportunity to the public at large to expand their knowledge on the importance of practicing and equipping oneself with healthy psychological traits to hinder from criminal and delinquent acts. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 16 (2): July – December 2015: XX XX.
A review of the criminological literature indicates that some personality traits appear to develop and shape violent criminal behaviour. With this in mind, the present study was aimed to examine the personality profiles of Malaysian male murderers utilising the Alternative Five Factor Model (AFFM) constituting five personality traits: Activity, Sociability, Aggressiveness-Hostility, Impulsive Sensation Seeking, and Neuroticism- Anxiety. Methods: The present study was an observational cross-sectional study using a guided self-administered questionnaire. Items representing the five personality traits were assessed through the Malay version of Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire-40-Cross Cultural Questionnaire (ZKPQ-M-40-CC). 71 male prisoners convicted of murder who are incarcerated in 11 Malaysian prisons were recruited. Descriptive item analyses were carried out to elicit the level of responses for each item in the ZKPQ-M-40-CC. Furthermore, the descriptive personality profiles using mean scores were performed. Results: The results indicated that the mean score of Activity (29.35, SD = 5.66) was higher than other personality traits. The mean score of Impulsive Sensation Seeking (21.65, SD = 6.48) and Aggressiveness-Hostility (21.65, SD = 6.48) were higher than the mean score of Neuroticism-Anxiety (17.96, SD = 5.51). Among the participants, 56.3% of them scored above the mean score (M = 26.54) for Sociability personality traits, which was the highest compared to other personality traits. 53.5% of the murderers scored equal or above the mean score (M = 6.48). Correlations among the five personality traits indicated several significant associations. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study successfully identified the personality profiles of Malaysian male prisoners convicted of murder.
The main purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between self-concept, family
relationship quality and externalizing behavior problem (aggressive behavior and delinquency
behavior) among adolescents in Selangor. Besides that, this study also to determine the level of selfconcept,
family relationship quality and externalizing behavior among secondary school students as
well as to compare the differences between these three variables according to sex. A total of 400
students (nmale =53%, nfemale=47%) from secondary schools were selected in this study. The multi-stage
cluster sampling technique was used during sample selection. Data were obtained from selfadministered
questionnaire that are consist of Individual Protective Factors Index Questionnaire
(1992), Family Relationship Characteristics (1997), Aggression Scale (2001) and Problem Behavior
Frequency Scale (1977). The findings revealed that majority of students have moderate level of selfconcept,
family relationship quality as well as externalizing behavior. In terms of sex differences, the
results showed that family belief, family structure and externalizing behavior have significant
differences according to sex (t= -4.393 to 7.588, p
The purpose of this study is to identify the effectiveness of integrative therapy treatment towards
depression and aggression among prison inmates. Integrative therapy in this study refers to treatment
module which are consisted of four integrated theories in a counselling process. It involved the
combined therapy of Person Client Centred (PCC), Rational Emotions Behaviour Therapy (REBT)
and Choice Theory Reality Therapy (CTRT) as technical treatment. Meanwhile, Stimulus Organism
Response (SOR) act as educational principle or training. Integrative therapy is conducted on the
respondents for six session of group counselling. This study is a quasi-experiment involving 160 depressed prison inmates (80 treatment; 80 control) and 140 aggressive inmates (70 treatment; 70
control) from five prison institutions as the respondent for this study using purposive sampling.
Inmates are identified as respondents using high cutting point of depression using Beck Depression
Inventory (BDI) and high aggression using Aggressive Questionnaires (AQ). For the data analysis, nonparametric
test such as Mann-Whitney Test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test were used based on the
normality test using Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk test. Result from the Mann-Whitney Test
shows that the treatment group had higher declining rate as compared to the controlled group for
depression and aggression. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test also shows the same result as the treatment
group indicates a decline in rate from the pre and post of the treatment compared to the controlled
group. The results of this study are hope to act as the medium for using integrative model which is
rarely use in studies in this country especially in the field of treatment for prison inmates. It is also
expected that it can be applied in different setting which offer treatment service such as hospitals,
social work institution, police institute, schools, higher learning institutions and others.
This study examined different types of symptoms of problem behaviours among juvenile offenders. Various symptoms of problem behaviours such as social problem, thinking problem, attention problem, rule-breaking behaviour, and aggressive behaviour can be predicted among young juvenile delinquents. There were 404 juvenile offenders participated in the study, consisted of 280 males and 124 females. All respondents convicted with seven different offenses. Prior to that, three research questions were developed: 1. Are there differences in the symptoms of problem behaviours among different types of juvenile offenders? 2. Are there gender differences in the symptoms of problem behaviours among young offenders? 3. Are there any age differences in the symptoms of problem behaviours among juvenile offenders? The results showed there were different symptoms of problem behaviours among young offenders. Gender differences profile also showed mean differences in each symptom of problem behaviours among juvenile offenders. One-way ANOVA results showed significant differences in thought problem F (7) = 2.748, p< .01 and attention problem F (7) = 25.948, p < .01 among different types of delinquent behaviours. Moreover, t-test results revealed that gender differences were significant in social problem; t (402) = -2.710, p
The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between goal orientation and aggressiveness among under 18 handball players in Negeri Sembilan. This study used survey method using Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionaire (TEOSQ) and The Judgement About Moral Behavior in Youth Sport Questionaire (JAMBYSQ). The respondents are the Under 18 handball players that represent eight districts in Negeri Sembilan (n = 192, 96 male and 96 females). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (percent, frequency, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test) and correlation. The findings showed that the orientation pattern of the female players were higher than the male players for both the task orientation and the ego. The results of the t-test showed that female handball players have higher levels of cognitive and somatic anxiety than male players. However, from the aspect of aggression, the findings showed that female players are more likely to show aggressive action compared to male. In conclusion, the findings showed that there was a significant relationship between goal orientation and aggression among under 18 handball players. Indirectly, this study stressed the importance of goal orientation. Coaches also need to put more focus on the task-orientation compared to ego-orientation.
The aim of our study was to investigate the intra- and interspecific agonistic behaviors exhibited by the worker and soldier castes of the subterranean termite Microcerotermes crassus Snyder (Isoptera: Termitidae). Aggression between M. crassus colonies from different field locations and also against three termite species--Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann), Globitermnes sulphureus Haviland, and Odontotermes sp.--were observed in the laboratory. Termite responses were tested in paired combination of castes (soldiers versus soldiers, soldiers versus workers, and workers versus workers) consisting of 10 individuals each. Significant agonistic behaviors were observed only in encounters between pairings of different termite species. M. crassus was aggressive toward individuals from different species but not toward individuals from different M. crassus colonies. Mortality of M. crassus reached 100% in most of the interspecific encounters. However, no or low mortality was recorded in the intraspecific pairings.
Background: Depression is one of the most important consequences of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and to control and treat it, it is necessary to identify its direct and indirect triggers and underlying factors. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate and investigate the mediator role of aggression in the relationship between marital stress and depression.
Methods: The sample of current cross-sectional study includes 212 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in Iran evaluated from Jan to Jun 2017. The required data were gathered using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaire, Buss and Perry's Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), and Hudson's Marital Satisfaction Index (HMSI). The data were analysed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling (SEM) using SPSS20 and AMOS software.
Results: The mean age of participants (68.4% male) was 58.5 ± 8.9. The results show that there is a significant positive relationship between all the variables (P < 0.05). The results of the model show that marital stress cannot directly predict depression (P = 0.586). However, through aggression, marital stress can significantly predict 18% of the variance of depression (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Not directly, but indirectly through aggression, marital stress can significantly predict increased depression among patients with CAD. The physiological and psychological pathways of the findings can be discussed.
The present study tested the hypothesis that men's drive for muscularity would be associated with their valuation of domination, power, status, and aggression over others. A community sample of 359 men from London, UK, completed measures of drive for muscularity, social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, trait aggression, and need for power, as well as their demographic details. Bivariate correlations showed that greater drive for muscularity was significantly correlated with most of the measures and their subscales. However, in a multiple regression analysis, the only significant predictor of drive for muscularity was support for group-based dominance hierarchies (Adj. R(2)=.17). These results suggest that men's drive for muscularity is associated with a socio-political ideology that favours social dominance.
BACKGROUND: Lesch-Nyhan disease (LND) is a rare X-linked recessive neurogenetic disorder caused by deficiency of the purine salvage enzyme hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT, EC 2.4.2.8) which is responsible for recycling purine bases into purine nucleotides. Affected individuals have hyperuricemia leading to gout and urolithiasis, accompanied by a characteristic severe neurobehavioural phenotype with compulsive self-mutilation, extrapyramidal motor disturbances and cognitive impairment.
AIM: For its theoretical therapeutic potential to replenish the brain purine nucleotide pool, oral supplementation with S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) was trialed in 5 Malaysian children with LND, comprising 4 related Malay children from 2 families, including an LND girl, and a Chinese Malaysian boy.
RESULTS: Dramatic reductions of self-injury and aggressive behaviour, as well as a milder reduction of dystonia, were observed in all 5 patients. Other LND neurological symptoms did not improve during SAMe therapy.
DISCUSSION: Molecular mechanisms proposed for LND neuropathology include GTP depletion in the brain leading to impaired dopamine synthesis, dysfunction of G-protein-mediated signal transduction, and defective developmental programming of dopamine neurons. The improvement of our LND patients on SAMe, particularly the hallmark self-injurious behaviour, echoed clinical progress reported with another purine nucleotide depletion disorder, Arts Syndrome, but contrasted lack of benefit with the purine disorder adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency. This first report of a trial of SAMe therapy in LND children showed remarkably encouraging results that warrant larger studies.
KEYWORDS: Aggression; Dystonia; HGPRT; HPRT1; Lesch–Nyhan disease; S-adenosylmethionine; Self-injury
Heroin addiction is a growing concern, affecting the socioeconomic development of many countries. Little is known about transgenerational effects on phenotype changes due to heroin addiction. This study aims to investigate changes in level of anxiety and aggression up to four different generations of adult male rats due to paternal exposure to heroin.