SEROTONIN FUNCTION AND RISK FOR ALCOHOLISM IN BOYS WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

Data in animals and adults indicate that central serotonergic (5-HT) f unction may be involved in the development of alcohol abuse. Despite t his, studies exploring this mechanism in individuals at risk for alcoh olism are scant. This study used a fenfluramine (FEN) challenge proced ure to investigate the relationship between risk for alcoholism and 5- HT function in 7- to 11-year-old boys with attention-deficit hyperacti vity disorder (ADHD). The prolactin (PRL) and cortisol (CORT) response s to FEN were examined in 10 sons of alcoholic fathers (FA+) and 30 so ns of nonalcoholic fathers (FA-). The FA+ group had a significantly gr eater CORT, but not PRL, response to FEN relative to the FA-group. The discrepancy between the CORT and PRL responses may be due to the diff erent mechanisms that underlie their 5-HT stimulated release. This sug gests that, among ADHD boys, those at familial risk for alcohol abuse may differ from those who are not al risk in 5-HT function. (C) 1998 A merican College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Published by Elsevier Scie nce Inc.