Enzyme activity and behavior in hyperactive children grown up.
Thirty-one men, originally seen as children for problems with overactivity, distractibility, and impulsiveness, were reevaluated at ages 21-23 years. Subjects were interviewed and tested and provided a blood sample for analyses of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH), monoamine oxidase (MAO), and catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT). A series of Pearson correlations between the biological variables and psychological measures revealed that MAO levels were negatively associated with measures of drug involvement, cigarette use, fire-setting, and sensation seeking; DBH levels were positively associated with measures of sensation-seeking; and COMT levels were negatively associated with a measure of hostility and positively correlated with a measure of impulsiveness.
Kuperman
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City.
Kramer
J
J
Loney
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000523:psychology; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood*; D011581:Psychological Tests
D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase