CSF biochemistries, glucose metabolism, and diurnal activity rhythms in alcoholic, violent offenders, fire setters, and healthy volunteers.
BACKGROUND
There is an extensive literature describing a central serotonin deficit in alcoholic, impulsive, violent offenders and fire setters. In the present study, we investigated biochemical concomitants of impulsivity and aggressiveness, and the physiological consequences of reduced central serotonin turnover.


METHODS
Forty-three impulsive and 15 nonimpulsive alcoholic offenders and 21 healthy volunteers were studied in the forensic psychiatry ward of a university psychiatric department. The subjects underwent lumbar punctures and oral glucose and aspartame challenges, and their diurnal activity rhythm was measured with physical activity monitors. Discriminant function analyses were used to investigate psychophysiological and biochemical concomitants of aggressive and impulsive behaviors.


RESULTS
Alcoholic, impulsive offenders with antisocial personality disorder had low mean cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and corticotropin levels and high mean CSF testosterone concentrations. Compared with healthy volunteers, they showed increased physical activity during the daytime. Alcoholic, impulsive offenders with intermittent explosive disorder had a low mean CSF 5-HIAA concentration and blood glucose nadir after an oral glucose challenge, and desynchronized diurnal activity rhythm. Healthy volunteers had mean CSF 5-HIAA concentrations that were intermediate between those of alcoholic, impulsive and nonimpulsive offenders. Alcoholic, nonimpulsive offenders had a significantly higher mean CSF 5-HIAA concentration than all the other groups, including healthy volunteers.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present sample, a low CSF 5-HIAA concentration was primarily associated with impulsivity and high CSF testosterone concentration, with aggressiveness or interpersonal violence.
Virkkunen
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Rawlings
R
R
Tokola
R
R
Poland
R E
RE
Guidotti
A
A
Nemeroff
C
C
Bissette
G
G
Kalogeras
K
K
Karonen
S L
SL
Linnoila
M
M
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D005391:Firesetting Behavior / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D014754:Violence
D012701:Serotonin; D013739:Testosterone; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D005947:Glucose; D006719:Homovanillic Acid