title: Reduced serotonergic functioning changes heart rate in ADHD.
abstract: Reduced mean heart rate (HR) was shown to be a biophysiological marker for aggression, which in turn was proven to be related to changed serotonergic neurotransmission. A total of 16 ADHD-diagnosed boys were subjected to rapid tryptophan depletion (RTD) and a placebo in a double-blind within-subject crossover-design. Mean HR was assessed under RTD/placebo. Low impulsive patients behaving aggressively under RTD showed a lowered HR under RTD versus placebo. Diminished 5-HT functioning was associated with lowered HR and aggressive behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main, Deutschordenstr, Frankfurt, Germany. F.Zepf@med.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Florian Daniel
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Zepf
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holtmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stadler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wöckel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poustka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan