Platelet poor plasma serotonin level in delinquent adolescents diagnosed with conduct disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Accumulating data indicate the involvement of the serotonergic system in adolescent aggression. The aim of this study was to examine the platelet-poor plasma (PPP) serotonin (5-HT) levels among delinquent adolescent boys with conduct disorder (CD) in comparison with normal controls.


METHODS
PPP 5-HT levels were measured in 16 male delinquent CD adolescents from a correctional facility and in 14 normal male adolescent controls. Severity of aggressive behavior was assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS).


RESULTS
Delinquent CD adolescents had higher PPP 5-HT levels (about 3-fold) than the normal controls (27.68+/-32.29 vs. 7.76+/-4.23 ng/ml, respectively, p=0.027). In the delinquent CD adolescents a significant correlation was found between the PPP 5-HT levels and the CBCL and OAS aggressive scores (r=0.68, p=0.0034 and r=0.59, p=0.016, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Juvenile delinquency is associated with high PPP 5-HT levels. Modulation of 5-HT neurotransmission may have a role in the symptomatology and treatment of severe adolescent CD.
Golubchik
Pavel
P
Geha Mental Health Center, Petah Tikva, Israel. pgolubchik@clalit.org.il
Mozes
Tamar
T
Vered
Yaffa
Y
Weizman
Abraham
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
D012701:Serotonin