WHOLE-BLOOD SEROTONIN AND DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS IN JUVENILE OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Objective: The study was conducted with children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to assess the relationship of whol e blood serotonin (5-HT) content to a concurrent diagnosis of a disrup tive behavior disorder (DBD) and to severity ratings of aggressive beh avior. Method: Eighteen children and adolescents who met DSM-III-R cri teria for OCD were evaluated with a structured interview, clinician ra ting scales, and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Blood 5-HT conce ntration was assayed with a fluorometric procedure. Relationships amon g categorical diagnoses, dimensional ratings, and blood 5-HT content w ere analyzed with bivariate and multivariate techniques. Results: OCD subjects with a DBD (n = 6) had significantly higher scores than those without a DBD (n = 12) on the Total Problem scale, the Externalizing Problem scale, and several of the behavioral syndrome scales of the CB CL. Blood 5-HT concentrations were significantly lower in those with a DBD than in those without a DBD, and blood 5-HT concentrations had si gnificant negative correlations with the Total score, the Externalizin g score, and the Aggressive Behavior score of the CBCL. Conclusions: T he results provide further evidence of a significant relationship betw een aggressive behavior and serotonergic functioning.