Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a life-long condition involving habitual irresponsible and delinquent behavior, with prevalence of 1–3% in the general population, and 40–70% in prison populations.1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Previous twin and adoption studies report heritability estimates for ASPD up to 50%,6, 7 and several studies have attempted to unravel the genetic background of antisocial personality. Although men have consistently been found more often antisocial than women, it has been suggested that antisocial personality emerges from the same familial (including genetic and environmental factors) and non-familial influences in both sexes.8 Conduct disorder prior to age 15 is an essential diagnostic criterion for ASPD, and it markedly increases the risk for ASPD in adulthood.9 In a recent genome-wide association study (GWAS), Dick et al.10 found several markers with genome-wide significance associated with conduct disorder symptomatology, especially in the gene C1QTNF7, although none remained significant when individuals were classified dichotomously as cases and controls. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increases the risk for ASPD,11 and genes that have been previously found in association with ADHD have also been tested for association with
