Neuropsychobiological transdiagnostic risk mechanisms for aggression in mental disorders across the life span

Abstract

Abstract Background Aggression in mental disorders (AMD) is a prevalent symptom, poses difficulties to the clinical setting and has far-reaching societal implications. The biological basis of different manifestations, developmental courses, and disease-specific mechanisms remains largely unknown. The lack of understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying AMD due to the heterogeneity of aggression and psychiatric disorders themselves, will be addressed by studying a longitudinal transdiagnostic cohort of patients suffering from mental disorders dimensionally quantified with respect to aggressive behavior. Methods Capitalizing on the Research Domain Criteria “negative valence system” (NVS) and “cognitive system” (CS), multilevel measurements of behavioral and biological systems provide a harmonized dataset at three study sites (Frankfurt, Mannheim/Heidelberg, Aachen; 900 adults, 200 children/youth) including forensic satellites ( n = 150). A cross-sectional matched control group (300 adults, 100 youth) will also be included. Discussion The goal of the study is to provide a multilevel characterization of patients, assessing dimensional phenotypic measures across time points and diagnoses, to finally define aggressive biosignatures. Trial Registration The present study has been registered at https://drks.de/register/en/trial/DRKS00035731 (number of registration: DRKS00035731; date of registration: 20/02/2025).