assessment-of-sexual-behavior-of-male-mice

Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice

Sexual behavior is highly species-specific. Although rodents have slightly different sexual behaviors, mice and rats have a similar sexual behavioral ...

Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health

Physical restraint (PR) is a highly controversal topic in psychiatry. Little is known about PR among psychiatric inpatients in China. This study examined the frequency of PR and its relationships with demographic and clinical characteristics among a large psychiatric institution in the Hunan Province, China.

Frequency of physical restraint and its associations with demographic and clinical characteristics in a Chinese psychiatric institution.

This study aimed to understand the demographic, clinical and criminological characteristics of Chinese homicide offenders with schizophrenia from a gender-based perspective. Information on all homicide offenders with schizophrenia who received forensic psychiatric assessment between 2010 and 2016 in Hunan Province, China, was systematically retrieved (n = 669). Gender differences in the above characteristics were analyzed, and independent correlates of homicide were explored. The male to female ratio of homicide offenders was about 4:1. Proportionally more males were single, unemployed and younger when committing their first crime than was apparent in females. Male perpetrators were more often influenced by delusions. Females were more likely to target their close family members. For males, living in rural areas and having a family history of mental disorder were positively associated with homicide, while having a criminal history and being unemployed were negatively associated. For females, younger age was positively, while being unmarried and unemployment were negatively associated with homicide. Our results indicate significant gender differences among Chinese homicide offenders with schizophrenia in demographic, clinical and criminological characteristics and in independent correlates of homicide. Further research in this field, especially aims at determining risk factors for crime in this population, should take the gender differences into account.

Gender differences among homicide offenders with schizophrenia in Hunan Province, China.

Little is known about the risk factors for aggression in general clinical settings in China. The aim of this study is to explore potential risk factors for inpatients with serious mental illness. The study was conducted from 15 March to 14 April 2013 and involved 16 general psychiatric institutions in China. A standardized data collection form was used to collect demographic and clinical characteristics data, including information on current hallucinations, delusions, depression, excitement, aboulia, apathy, and adherence to treatment. Information on lifetime history of violence and suicidality was also collected. The Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) was also administered to indicate recent (past week) aggression. A total of 511 inpatients were enrolled. On the basis of a score of five or greater on the MOAS, 245 inpatients were assigned to aggressive group and 266 were assigned to non-aggressive group. A lifetime history of violent behaviour (OR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.95-5.11), suicide (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.49-6.10), as well as current delusions (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.24-2.97), and excitement (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.57-4.39) were associated with aggression. The study suggested violent history, suicide history, current delusions, and excitement are the risk factors for aggression among general psychiatric inpatients with serious mental illnesses.

Delusion, excitement, violence, and suicide history are risk factors for aggressive behavior in general inpatients with serious mental illnesses: A multicenter study in China.

 No study has comprehensively evaluated the effect of postweaning isolation on the social and sexual behaviors of a certain strain of rodents in ethology. The present study aims to explore how and to what extent isolation rearing after postweaning affects the social and sexual behaviors of male CD-1 mice in adulthood systematically.  Male CD-1 mice were randomly assigned to two groups: isolation reared (IS, one mouse per cage,  = 30) and group housed (GH, five mice per cage,  = 15). The mice underwent isolation rearing from postnatal day 23 to day 93. Then, social affiliation, recognition and memory were measured through selection task experiments. Social interaction under a home cage and novel environment were measured via resident-intruder and social interaction test, respectively. Furthermore, sexual preference, homosexual and heterosexual behaviors were measured.  Our study found that postweaning isolation increased the social affiliation for conspecifics ( = 0.001), reduced social recognition ( = 0.042) and impaired social memory. As for social interaction, isolated mice showed a remarkably increased aggression toward the intruder male in a home cage or novelty environment. For instance, isolated mice presented a short attack latency ( < 0.001), high attack frequency ( < 0.001) and long attack duration ( < 0.001). In addition, isolated mice exhibited further social avoidance. Contrastingly, isolated mice displayed a reduced sexual preference for female (IS: 61.47 ± 13.80%, GH: 70.33 ± 10.06%,  = 0.038). As for heterosexual behavior, isolated mice have a short mating duration ( = 0.002), long mounting latency ( = 0.002), and long intromission latency ( = 0.015). However, no association was observed between postweaning isolation and homosexual behavior in male CD-1 mouse.  Postweaning isolation increased the social affiliation, impaired the social cognition and considerably increased the aggression in social interaction of adult male CD-1 mice. Postweaning isolation induced a decreased sexual preference for female in adulthood. Postweaning isolation extended the latency to mate, thereby reducing mating behavior. No association was observed between isolation and homosexual behavior.

Postweaning Isolation Rearing Alters the Adult Social, Sexual Preference and Mating Behaviors of Male CD-1 Mice.

Long stay in forensic psychiatric hospitals is common in patients who are defined as "not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder". However, little is known about how these patients experience and perceive the long stay within these settings. The aim of this study is to explore the perception and needs of long-stay patients in forensic psychiatric hospitals in China.

The experience of long-stay patients in a forensic psychiatric hospital in China: a qualitative study.

Previous studies reported that reduced gray matter volume (GMV) was associated with violent-related behaviors. However, the previous studies were conducted on adults and no study has studied the association between GMV and violent behaviors on adolescents. The purpose of the study was to investigate GMV's effects in adolescent violent offenders based on a Chinese Han population, which can address the problem of possible confounding factors in adult studies.

Xiao-Ping Wang

Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health

Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice