Low dopamine-beta-hydroxylase: a biological sequela of abuse and neglect?
Twenty-one psychiatrically hospitalized boys were studied while off psychoactive medication to determine if conduct disorder, solitary type, and abuse or neglect experiences correlated with low levels of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity. Preliminary results supported earlier findings that undersocialized types of conduct disorder in boys were correlated with low DBH activity. Possible or definite neglect or abuse before 36 months of age was correlated with low DBH activity. Abuse or neglect was not correlated with low DBH activity when time of occurrence was not specified. Low serum DBH may be a biological sequela of seriously disrupted attachment.
Galvin
M
M
Dept. of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis 46202-5200.
Shekhar
A
A
Simon
J
J
Stilwell
B
B
Ten Eyck
R
R
Laite
G
G
Karwisch
G
G
Blix
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D010553:Personality Development; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D009638:Norepinephrine