Whole blood serotonin and disruptive behaviors in juvenile obsessive-compulsive disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The study was conducted with children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to assess the relationship of whole blood serotonin (5-HT) content to a concurrent diagnosis of a disruptive behavior disorder (DBD) and to severity ratings of aggressive behavior.


METHODS
Eighteen children and adolescents who met DSM-III-R criteria for OCD were evaluated with a structured interview, clinician rating scales, and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Blood 5-HT concentration was assayed with a fluorometric procedure. Relationships among categorical diagnoses, dimensional ratings, and blood 5-HT content were analyzed with bivariate and multivariate techniques.


RESULTS
OCD subjects with a DBD (n = 6) had significantly higher scores than those without a DBD (n = 12) on the Total Problem scale, the Externalizing Problem scale, and several of the behavioral syndrome scales of the CBCL. Blood 5-HT concentrations were significantly lower in those with a DBD than in those without a DBD, and blood 5-HT concentrations had significant negative correlations with the Total score, the Externalizing score, and the Aggressive Behavior score of the CBCL.


CONCLUSIONS
The results provide further evidence of a significant relationship between aggressive behavior and serotonergic functioning.
Hanna
G L
GL
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Yuwiler
A
A
Coates
J K
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D012701:Serotonin