Fenfluramine effects on impulsivity in a sample of adults with and without history of conduct disorder.
BACKGROUND
The role of serotonin in impulsivity was examined by administering the serotonin-releasing drug, d,l-fenfluramine, and measuring effects on impulsive responding of male subjects with and without a history of conduct disorder (CD) under controlled laboratory conditions.


METHODS
Five adult male subjects with a history of CD and five matched controls were recruited into a study to determine the acute effects of d,l-fenfluramine on a laboratory measure of impulsive behavior. This laboratory measure, based upon delay of gratification, presented subjects with choices between a small reward after a short delay and a larger reward after a longer delay. Impulsive behavior was indicated by frequent choices for the smaller reward.


RESULTS
Acute oral doses of d,l-fenfluramine (0.21, 0.42, and 0.85 mg/kg) produced decreases in the number of impulsive choices in all subjects with a history of CD, but had no effect on the control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
This data suggests that a deficit in serotonin and/or dopamine may play a role in impulsivity in CD subjects, and drugs which act to reduce this biological deficit can reduce impulsiveness.
Cherek
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Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center 77030-3497, USA. don.r.cherek@uth.tmc.edu
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D000328:Adult; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004298:Dopamine; D005277:Fenfluramine; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors