AGGRESSIVE-BEHAVIOR AND PLATELET H-3 PAROXETINE BINDING IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Forty schizophrenic patients were included in a study of the relations hip between serotonin function as measured by H-3-paroxetine binding t o platelet membranes and aggressive behaviour. Patients classified as either aggressive or non-aggressive were paired by age, sex and durati on of illness. H-3-Paroxetine binding variations were avoided by takin g samples for each pair between 09:00 and 11:00 h, within 4 days of ea ch other, and by assaying pairs of samples together. The mean K-d for the aggressive group was 0.193 +/- 0.126 nM and the mean K-d for the n on-aggressive group was 0.176 +/- 0.164 nM. The mean B-max for the agg ressive group was 1451 +/- 386 fmol/mg protein while the mean for the non-aggressive group was 1549 +/- 375 fmol/mg protein. There was no si gnificant difference between the groups for either parameter, K-d or B -max. There were ho significant correlations between psychopathology r atings including positive and negative symptoms, depression, suicidal thoughts, impulse control, as well as both past and present history of aggression, hostility and irritability traits, psychopathic deviance and either B-max and K-d. This study finds no relationship between agg ressive behaviour and peripheral serotonin function as measured by H-3 -paroxetine binding to platelet membranes.