ANTISOCIAL TENDENCIES IN ALCOHOL-DEPENDENT MEN AND THEIR RELATION TO HARMAN, SALSOLINOL AND DOPAMINE

Plasma dopamine, beta-carbolines (norharman, harman) and isoquinolines ((R)- and (S)-salsolinol) were examined for their relationship to ant isocial tendencies in 138 drinking melt with an alcohol dependence syn drome according to ICD-10 criteria. Antisociality was assessed accordi ng to the following criteria: delinquency, involvement in fist-fights and homelessness. The personality structure was documented by the Trid imensional Personality Questionnaire of Cloninger. An early age of ons et of alcohol dependence and a high degree of 'novelty seeking' were a ssociated with antisocial tendencies. Of the B-carbolines and isoquino lines, harman and (S)-salsolinol were significantly decreased among an tisocial alcoholics. Norharman, (R)-salsolinol and dopamine were not a ssociated with antisocial personality. The contribution of endogenous alkaloids to the biological characterization of antisocial tendencies in alcoholics is described.