Relationship between Thyroid Hormone Levels and Crime Type: A Controlled Study in Prisoners

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, esp...

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Main Authors: Hasan Acar, Ayse Ulgen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:International Journal of Endocrinology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/9172134
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author Hasan Acar
Ayse Ulgen
author_facet Hasan Acar
Ayse Ulgen
author_sort Hasan Acar
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-eb4947dea91942bebad96b0bafe7cd142025-02-03T01:28:21ZengWileyInternational Journal of Endocrinology1687-83371687-83452020-01-01202010.1155/2020/91721349172134Relationship between Thyroid Hormone Levels and Crime Type: A Controlled Study in PrisonersHasan Acar0Ayse Ulgen1Girne American University Medical Faculty, Karmi, CyprusGirne American University Medical Faculty, Karmi, CyprusVarious 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.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/9172134
spellingShingle Hasan Acar
Ayse Ulgen
Relationship between Thyroid Hormone Levels and Crime Type: A Controlled Study in Prisoners
International Journal of Endocrinology
title Relationship between Thyroid Hormone Levels and Crime Type: A Controlled Study in Prisoners
title_full Relationship between Thyroid Hormone Levels and Crime Type: A Controlled Study in Prisoners
title_fullStr Relationship between Thyroid Hormone Levels and Crime Type: A Controlled Study in Prisoners
title_full_unstemmed Relationship between Thyroid Hormone Levels and Crime Type: A Controlled Study in Prisoners
title_short Relationship between Thyroid Hormone Levels and Crime Type: A Controlled Study in Prisoners
title_sort relationship between thyroid hormone levels and crime type a controlled study in prisoners
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/9172134
work_keys_str_mv AT hasanacar relationshipbetweenthyroidhormonelevelsandcrimetypeacontrolledstudyinprisoners
AT ayseulgen relationshipbetweenthyroidhormonelevelsandcrimetypeacontrolledstudyinprisoners