Elevated childhood serotonergic function protects against adolescent aggression in disruptive boys.
OBJECTIVE
This longitudinal study examined whether responsiveness of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) in childhood predicts adolescent aggression.


METHODS
Boys (N = 33) with disruptive behavior disorders who received assessments of central 5-HT function via the prolactin response to fenfluramine between 1990 and 1994 when they were 7 to 11 years old were re-evaluated clinically on average 6.7 years later.


RESULTS
After accounting for baseline aggression, early 5-HT function accounted for a significant proportion of variance in adolescent aggression. This prospective relationship of childhood 5-HT function with adolescent aggression (r = -0.71) and antisocial behavior (r = -0.59) was found primarily in adolescents who were aggressive during childhood. Irrespective of childhood aggression, no child with high 5-HT function was particularly aggressive at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Low childhood 5-HT function appears important, but not sufficient, for the emergence of adolescent aggression. However, early high 5-HT function may protect against adolescent violence and aggression.
Halperin
Jeffrey M
JM
Psychology Department, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367, USA. jeffrey.halperin@qc.cuny.edu
Kalmar
Jessica H
JH
Schulz
Kurt P
KP
Marks
David J
DJ
Sharma
Vanshdeep
V
Newcorn
Jeffrey H
JH
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D009642:Norfenfluramine / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
D018490:Serotonin Agents; D009642:Norfenfluramine; D005277:Fenfluramine; D012701:Serotonin; D011388:Prolactin