title: Platelet MAO-B, personality, and psychopathology.
abstract: The article investigates the relationships between platelet monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity, personality, and psychopathology (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994] diagnoses. These relationships were assessed in 178 incarcerated male juvenile delinquents. Even after controlling for smoking, the authors found that both Internalizing and Externalizing Psychopathology were negatively related to MAO-B activity. In the final reduced model, novelty seeking fully mediated the relationships between MAO-B and Externalizing Psychopathology but not between MAO-B and Internalizing Psychopathology. It was hypothesized that low platelet MAO-B activity does not directly predispose individuals to psychopathology but is related to specific personality traits, which in turn represent a vulnerability factor for psychopathology. Future studies should help clarify the nature of the relationships between personality, biological markers, and psychopathology.
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-7900, USA. vladislav.ruchkin@yale.edu
authors.forename: Vladislav V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Ruchkin
authors.forename: Roman A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Koposov
authors.forename: Britt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: af Klinteberg
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oreland
authors.forename: Elena L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Grigorenko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000523:psychology; D008960:Models, Psychological; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D008995:Monoamine Oxidase