Jm. Halperin et al., SEROTONERGIC FUNCTION IN AGGRESSIVE AND NONAGGRESSIVE BOYS WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER, The American journal of psychiatry, 151(2), 1994, pp. 243-248
Objective: This study was designed to assess central serotonergic (5-H
T) function in aggressive and nonaggressive boys with attention defici
t hyperactivity disorder. Method:Prolactin response to a challenge dos
e of the 5HT agonist d,l-fenfluramine was assessed in 25 7-11-1-year-o
ld boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who were divided
into aggressive and nonaggressive subgroups. In addition, the subgrou
ps were compared on plasma catecholamine metabolites and platelet 5-HT
. Results: The aggressive group had a significantly greater prolactin
response to the fenfluramine challenge than the nonaggressive subgroup
. The groups did not differ on peripheral measures of neurotransmitter
function Conclusions: These data suggest that aggressive and nonaggre
ssive children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder differ in
central 5-HT functioning.