Saliva Testing Predicts Aggression in Boys

As one could imagine, there are certain hormones associated with violent behavior, particularly in boys. But according to a pilot study conducted by the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, not only can these hormones be found in saliva, but saliva can be tested to reveal the levels of those hormones and predict aggression.

Researchers took saliva samples from 17 boys, ages 7-9, who were being admitted to the hospital for psychiatric care. The samples were tested for levels of three hormones: testosterone, dehydroepiandroterone (DHEA), and cortisol. They found that increased levels of these hormones were present in the boys that displayed severe and frequent acts of aggression. 

The team, lead by Drew Barzman, MD, a child and adolescent forensic psychiatrist, focused primarily on developing a quick assessment of risk levels for violent behaviors in child and adolescent patients. However, Barzman imagines a variety of other applications for this technology in the future. It may be used to monitor which treatments are working for a particular patient, or to offer a quick way to determine the probability of doctors being attacked by a young psychiatric patient. Eventually, he says, the technology could be used to help improve safety in schools. 

Ultimately, the goal of the researchers is to use this technique to eventually combine with others to create a new tool that can accurately and quickly forecast violent behavior.

Photo Credit: Public Domain (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

NOS Themes:

1. Science is collaborative - At the end of the article, the author had a fairly large paragraph that listed each person in Barzman's team.
2. Role of credibility - In the last paragraph, each team member had a string of titles before and after their name. Barzman himself had a fairly wordy title and position. 
3. Role of motivation and curiosity - These researchers were motivated, and rightly so. They themselves worked in fields that could benefit from this technique. They knew that their work could help prevent assaults on them or their colleagues. 

Link to article: Saliva Testing Predicts Aggression in Boys

Further Reading: 

• No More Swabbing: Spit Sampling Gets a Whole Lot Easier
• Violent Video Games Increase Aggression Long After the Game Is Turned Off, Study Finds
• Earlier, Later Puberty May Trigger Aggression in Boys, Researchers Find
• Television Viewing And Aggression: Some Alternative Perspectives