Catecholamines and diagnoses in children.
Theoretically, noradrenergic (NA) function may be lower in subjects with undersocialized conduct disorder (CDU) and higher in subjects with anxiety/depressive disorder. To test this hypothesis, diagnostic and 24-hour urine catecholamine measures were compared between subjects with plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) activities less than 6 mumoles/min/L (low D beta H group) and greater than 15 mumoles/min/L (high D beta H group). Several measures relating to norepinephrine metabolism were lower in the low D beta H group, and the low D beta H group had more diagnoses of CDU and fewer anxiety and depressive disorder diagnoses. Comparisons between clinical and biological measures within each of the D beta H groups were also consistent with the hypothesized relationship between NA function, CDU, and anxiety/depressive disorder.
Rogeness
G A
GA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7792.
Javors
M A
MA
Maas
J W
JW
Macedo
C A
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine
D002395:Catecholamines; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D009638:Norepinephrine