Plasma monoamine metabolites and aggression: two studies of normal and oppositional defiant disorder children

In two studies the relationship between plasma monoamine metabolites and di fferent parameters of aggression were examined in children suffering from s evere aggression and antisocial behavior. No prior studies have related mea sures of serotonergic function to experimentally elicited aggression and on ly a few included healthy comparison groups. Plasma 5-HIAA, HVA and MHPG we re measured in 15 boys with a oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and 25 no rmal controls (NC) (study 1), and 22 ODD and 25 NC children (study 2). On a separate occasion each subject had the opportunity to behave aggressively towards an opponent. 5-HIAA and HVA were significantly lower in the ODD tha n NC group and both parameters were significantly inversely correlated with aggression and delinquency. These findings were replicated in the second s tudy. The results of the study support a role for serotonergic functioning in persistent antisocial and aggressive behavior in young children. (C) 199 9 Elsevier Science B.V./ECNP. All rights reserved.