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Whole blood serotonin and disruptive behaviors in juvenile obsessive-compulsive disorder
G L Hanna1, A Yuwiler, J K Coates
1University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Objective:
The study was conducted with children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to assess the relationship of whole blood serotonin (5-HT) content to a concurrent diagnosis of a disruptive behavior disorder (DBD) and to severity ratings of aggressive behavior.
Method:
Eighteen children and adolescents who met DSM-III-R criteria for OCD were evaluated with a structured interview, clinician rating scales, and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Blood 5-HT concentration was assayed with a fluorometric procedure. Relationships among categorical diagnoses, dimensional ratings, and blood 5-HT content were analyzed with bivariate and multivariate techniques.
Results:
OCD subjects with a DBD (n = 6) had significantly higher scores than those without a DBD (n = 12) on the Total Problem scale, the Externalizing Problem scale, and several of the behavioral syndrome scales of the CBCL. Blood 5-HT concentrations were significantly lower in those with a DBD than in those without a DBD, and blood 5-HT concentrations had significant negative correlations with the Total score, the Externalizing score, and the Aggressive Behavior score of the CBCL.
Conclusions:
The results provide further evidence of a significant relationship between aggressive behavior and serotonergic functioning.