Longitudinal study of inmates of a prison for the psychiatrically disturbed: plasma concentrations of biogenic amine metabolites and amino acids.
Plasma concentrations of eight large and neutral amino acids and 10 acidic metabolites of biogenic amines in seven inmates incarcerated in the Regional Psychiatric Centre (Praries), Correctional Service of Canada, were assessed each week day for 4 weeks (i.e., 20 samples each). Measures of central tendency and dispersion of the variables were calculated. The measures are distinctively different in their variability and their normality of distribution. The large and neutral amino acid (LNAA) measures are somewhat less variable, but also less likely to be normally distributed than most acid metabolites. Acid metabolites tend to show consistent interindividual differences that persist over time, with the notable exception of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. LNAA measures tend to show differences across time but not between individuals. The distributional properties of LNAA measures are largely accounted for by the observation of a downward convergence of values of these variables over the 4 weeks of the study.
Davis
B A
BA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Yu
P H
PH
Durden
D A
DA
Pease
K
K
Green
C
C
Menzies
R
R
Gordon
A
A
Templeman
R
R
Boulton
A A
AA
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000097:blood*; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012016:Reference Values
D000596:Amino Acids; D001679:Biogenic Amines