Marked Reduction in Serotonergic Activity in a Sexually Aggressive Adolescent (original) (raw)
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Marked reduction in serotonergic activity in a sexually aggressive adolescent male
The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences, 2014
Serotonergic dysfunctions are implicated in conduct disorder, impulsivity, and aggression. Early adverse experiences increase the risk for these behaviors in adolescents. The authors investigated serotonergic activity in one adolescent male who experienced maternal abandonment and childhood abuse and exhibited severely aggressive sexual offenses. Platelet serotonin (5-HT) concentration, [14C]-5HT uptake kinetics, and plasma prolactin, cortisol response to D,L-fenfluramine (D,L-FEN) were measured. Results showed extremely low 5-HT concentration (2.9+/-0.7 ng/10⁸ platelets), [14C]-5HT uptake rate (0.5+/-0.04 mM/min/10⁷ platelets), undetectable Km and Vmax, and abnormally blunted prolactin, cortisol response to D,L-FEN. These abnormalities in this sexually aggressive adolescent may be a consequence of childhood abuse.
Serotonergic functioning in depressed abused children: clinical and familial correlates
Biological Psychiatry, 1998
Background: The goal of this study was to examine serotonergic functioning and concomitant clinical and familial correlates in depressed abused children. Methods: L-5-Hydroxytryptophan ( L-5-HTP) (0.8 mg/kg) was administered intravenously to 10 depressed abused (MDD-AB), 10 depressed nonabused (MDD-NA), and 10 normal control nonabused (NC-NA) children. The children in the two nonabused cohorts represent a small matched subset of children from a larger interlocking study of the psychobiology of depression. Blood samples for prolactin and cortisol were collected from 30 min before to 2.5 hours after L-5-HTP infusion. Results: The MDD-AB children secreted significantly more prolactin post-L-5-HTP than the children in the other two groups. There were no differences in baseline prolactin or any of the cortisol measures. Total prolactin post-L-5-HTP was significantly correlated with clinical ratings of aggressive behavior (rho ϭ .48). In addition, children with a family history positive for suicide attempt (MDD-AB: n ϭ 7; MDD-NA: n ϭ 5; NC-NA: n ϭ 2) secreted significantly more prolactin post-L-5-HTP than children with no family history of suicide. Conclusions: Dysregulation in the serotonergic system in abused children appears to be related to both familial and experiential factors. Biol Psychiatry 1998;44:973-981
Platelet serotonin measures in adolescents with conduct disorder
Biological Psychiatry, 1997
Dysregulation of serotonergic function has been associated with aggression in several studies involving chiMren, adolescents, and adults. This study investigated the relationship of platelet serotonergic measures to conduct disorder type, severity of aggression, and social skills impairment. Standardized assessments of diagnosis, aggression, impulsivity, and social skills were obtained from 43 male adolescents (ages 13-17) incarcerated at an involuntary residential treatment facility for juvenile offenders. Blood samples were collected and assayed for whole blood serotonin (5-HT) and platelet [3H]-paroxetine-labeled 5-HT-transporter binding. Whole blood 5-HT was higher in adolescents with conduct disorder, childhood type than in subjects with conduct disorder, adolescent type. Whole blood 5-HT was positively correlated with violence rating of the current offense and total offense points, and staff ratings of social skills impairment. Our findings are consistent with a relationship between 5-HT dysregulation and aggressive behavior in incarcerated adolescent boys with conduct disorder, particularly of childhood onset.
Platelet poor plasma serotonin level in delinquent adolescents diagnosed with conduct disorder
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 2009
Objective: Accumulating data indicate the involvement of the serotonergic system in adolescent aggression. The aim of this study was to examine the platelet-poor plasma (PPP) serotonin (5-HT) levels among delinquent adolescent boys with conduct disorder (CD) in comparison with normal controls. Method: PPP 5-HT levels were measured in 16 male delinquent CD adolescents from a correctional facility and in 14 normal male adolescent controls. Severity of aggressive behavior was assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS). Results: Delinquent CD adolescents had higher PPP 5-HT levels (about 3-fold) than the normal controls (27.68 ± 32.29 vs. 7.76 ± 4.23 ng/ml, respectively, p = 0.027). In the delinquent CD adolescents a significant correlation was found between the PPP 5-HT levels and the CBCL and OAS aggressive scores (r = 0.68, p = 0.0034 and r = 0.59, p = 0.016, respectively). Conclusions: Juvenile delinquency is associated with high PPP 5-HT levels. Modulation of 5-HT neurotransmission may have a role in the symptomatology and treatment of severe adolescent CD.
Biological …, 1997
The results of several studies have indicated an inverse relationship between central serotonergic (5-HT) mechanisms and aggression in animals and adults, but studies in children have yielded conflicting results. This study assessed 5-HT function, using a fenfluramine (FEN) challenge procedure, in an attempt to replicate a previously reported enhancement of the prolactin (PRL) response to FEN in aggressive relative to nonaggressive ADHD boys. The study failed to replicate the previous finding. Samples from both studies were then examined to reconcile the discrepant findings. The samples differed significantly in age. The entire group (n = 50) was then divided into older and younger subgroups and reanalyzed using a two-way (age-group X aggression) analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) controlling for plasma medication level. The ANCOVA generated a significant age-group X aggression interaction. Young aggressive boys had a significantly greater PRL response to FEN than young nonaggressive boys, but no such difference existed in the older age-group. These findings raise the possibility of different developmental trajectories in 5-HT function between aggressive and nonaggressive boys.
Psychiatry Research, 1992
Prolactin (PRL) and cortisol (CORT) responses to a single oral administration (1.0 mg/ kg) of the indirect serotonin agonist dl-fenfluramine were assessed in unmedicated prepubertal and adolescent males with disruptive behavior disorders (DBD). Neuroendocrine responses were correlated with scores on aggression rating scales in prepubertal and adolescent DBD patients and compared with those of matched adolescent normal control subjects. Net dlfenfluramine-induced PRL and CORT release was not correlated with aggression rating scores in prepubertal and adolescent DBD patients and did not differ significantly between adolescent DBD patients and normal control subjects. Although the present study does not demonstrate a serotonergic abnormality in aggression or DBD, this may be more a reflection of limitations of the neuroendocrine challenge test procedures or the methods used than evidence that serotonergic function in the central nervous system is normal in aggression.
Serotonin, testosterone and alcohol in the etiology of domestic violence
Psychiatry Research, 2001
In a previous study we administered the panicogenic agent sodium lactate to a select group of perpetrators of domestic violence and comparison groups. Results of that study showed that perpetrators exhibited exaggerated Ž . lactate-induced fear, panic and rage. In this current study, we compared the cerebral spinal fluid CSF concentra-Ž . tions of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid 5-HIAA and testosterone obtained from perpetrators of domestic violence and a group of healthy comparison subjects. All subjects were assessed for DSM-III-R diagnoses. Perpetrators with alcohol Ž . Ž . Ž . Ž . dependence DV-ALC n s 13 , perpetrators without alcohol dependence DV-NALC n s 10 and healthy Ž . Ž . comparison subjects HCS n s 20 were clinically assessed using the Spielberger Trait Anxiety, Brown᎐Goodwin Aggression Scale, Buss Durkee Hostility Inventory and Straus Conflict Tactics. Following an overnight fast and bed rest, subjects received a lumbar puncture to obtain CSF concentrations of 5-HIAA and testosterone. Perpetrators scored significantly higher on measures of aggression than HCS. DV-NALC had significantly lower concentrations of Ž . CSF 5-HIAA and higher Straus Conflict Tactics CT physical violence scores than DV-ALC and HCS. DV-ALC had significantly higher concentrations of CSF testosterone than DV-NALC. DV-ALC also had significantly higher Straus CT physical violence scores than HCS. DV-NALC and DV-ALC differed on 5-HIAA concentrations, testosterone concentrations, Straus CT physical violence scores and alcohol dependence. These results suggest that DV-NALC and DV-ALC groups could have different biological mechanisms mediating domestic violence. ᮊ
Biological Psychiatry, 2000
Disturbances of affect, impulse regulation, and autoaggressive behavior, which are all said to be related to an altered function of the central serotonergic (5-HT) system, are prominent features of borderline personality disorder (BPD). A high coincidence of childhood physical and sexual abuse is reported in these patients. Animal studies indicate that early, sustained stress correlates with a dysfunctional central 5-HT system. Therefore, we hypothesize that sustained traumatic stress in childhood affects the responsivity of the postsynaptic serotonergic system of traumatized BPD patients. Following Axis I, Axis II, and trauma assessment, a neuroendocrine challenge test was performed with the postsynaptic serotonergic agonist meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) in 12 impulsive and autoaggressive female patients with BPD and 9 matched healthy volunteers. The cortisol and prolactin responses to the m-CPP challenge in BPD patients were significantly lower compared to those in controls. Within the group of patients with BPD, the net prolactin response showed a high inverse correlation with the frequency of the physical (r = -.77) and sexual abuse (r = -.60). Our data suggest that severe and sustained traumatic stress in childhood affects the 5-HT system and especially 5-HT(1A) receptors. This finding confirms the data from animal research. The blunted prolactin response to m-CPP appears to be the result of severe traumatization and independent of the BPD diagnosis.