LAUSR.org creates dashboard-style pages of related content for over 1.5 million academic articles. Sign Up to like articles & get recommendations!

Digit ratio (2D:4D), impulsiveness and aggression in male heroin addicts: A prospective controlled study

Photo from wikipedia

Abstract The ratio of the length of the index finger to ring finger (2D:4D) is considered to be an indicator of prenatal testosterone exposure. The androgen theory suggests that the… Click to show full abstract

Abstract The ratio of the length of the index finger to ring finger (2D:4D) is considered to be an indicator of prenatal testosterone exposure. The androgen theory suggests that the masculinizing effects of fetal androgens may play a role in certain psychiatric disorders. We have examined the relationship between impulsiveness, aggression and adult attention deficit along with the 2D:4D digit ratios in male heroin abusers. The study included 62 male patients with heroin dependence and a control group comprising of 50 healthy individuals having similar socio-demographic features. Scores of the Barratt impulsiveness scale, Buss Perry Aggression Scale and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) self-report scale were obtained from the participants. The lengths of second and fourth digits of the right hands were measured. The patients group had significantly higher scores of impulsiveness, aggression and ADHD compared to the healthy control group; and their digit ratios were significantly lower. No correlations were found between digit ratios of heroin addicts and their impulsiveness, aggression and ADHD scores. Our study is the first to examine the relationship between digit ratio and impulsiveness, aggression and ADHD levels in patients with heroin dependence. Prenatal high testosterone exposure might have a role in the etiology of heroin addiction.

Keywords: ratio impulsiveness; male heroin; aggression; impulsiveness aggression; digit ratio; heroin addicts

Journal Title: Personality and Individual Differences
Year Published: 2017

Link to full text (if available)


Share on Social Media:                               Sign Up to like & get
recommendations!

Related content

More Information              News              Social Media              Video              Recommended



                Click one of the above tabs to view related content.