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Methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene and oxytocin blood levels in the development of psychopathy
Abstract
Child conduct problems (CPs) are a robust predictor of adult mental health; the concurrence of callous-unemotional (CU) traits confers specific risk for psychopathy. Psychopathy may be related to disturbances in the oxytocin (OXT) system. Evidence suggests that epigenetic changes in the OXT receptor gene (OXTR) are associated with lower circulating OXT and social-cognitive difficulties. We tested methylation levels of OXTR in 4- to 16-year-old males who met DSM criteria for a diagnosis of oppositional-defiant or conduct disorder and were stratified by CU traits and age. Measures were DNA methylation levels of six CpG sites in the promoter region of the OXTR gene (where a CpG site is a cytosine nucleotide occurs next to a guanine nucleotide in the linear sequence of bases along its lenth, linked together by phosphate binding), and OXT blood levels. High CU traits were associated with greater methylation of the OXTR gene for two cytosine nucleotide and guanine nucleotide phosphate linked sites and lower circulating OXT in older males. Higher methylation correlated with lower OXT levels. We conclude that greater methylation of OXTR characterizes adolescent males with high levels of CU and CPs, and this methylation is associated with lower circulating OXT and functional impairment in interpersonal empathy. The results add genetic evidence that high CU traits specify a distinct subgroup within CP children, and they suggest models of psychopathy may be informed by further identification of these epigenetic processes and their functional significance.
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“Our findings are in line with emerging evidence (Dadds et al., 2014; Haas et al., 2016) suggesting that epigenetic modification of genes regulating OT pathways and endogenous OT levels are associated with the way people form and maintain intimate social relationships with others.”
From Associations between oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) methylation, plasma oxytocin, and attachment across adulthood (2019) · cites this paper as Dadds et al., 2014
In the citing paper
“When looking at only the older boys in their sample, however, they observed a negative relationship (i.e., higher OXTR methylation levels were associated with lower plasma OT levels in boys aged 9–16 years).”
From Associations between oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) methylation, plasma oxytocin, and attachment across adulthood (2019) · cites this paper as Dadds et al. (2014)
In the citing paper
“Also, Dadds et al. (2014) found no associations between OXTR methylation and plasma OT in their total sample of young and older boys.”
From Associations between oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) methylation, plasma oxytocin, and attachment across adulthood (2019) · cites this paper as Dadds et al. (2014)
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Metadata
- Authors
- Dadds, M. R., Moul, C., Cauchi, A., Dobson-Stone, C., Hawes, D. J., Brennan, J., & Ebstein, R. E.
- Affiliations
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Sydney Children's Hospital (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Dadds, Mark R.
- Venue
- Development and Psychopathology
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2013-09-23
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 33-40
- ISSN
- 0954-5794 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-2198
- OpenAlex
- W2075192390
- Cited by
- 230
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 15.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Development and Psychopathology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- National University of Singapore (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- oxytocin receptor gene, oxytocin receptor, DNA methylation, psychopathy, callous-unemotional traits, child conduct problems, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, epigenetics, promoter CpG sites, adolescent boys, interpersonal empathy, social cognition
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Age Factors, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Child, Empathy, Family, Humans, Male, Oxytocin, Social Environment, Receptors, Oxytocin, DNA Methylation, Conduct Disorder, Epigenesis, Genetic
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