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Enzymes related to biogenic amine metabololism and personality charateristics in depressed patients
Author(s) -
Perris C.,
Jacobsson L.,
VonKnorring L.,
Oreland L.,
Perris H.,
Ross S. B.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1980.tb00886.x
Subject(s) - sensation seeking , personality , psychology , correlation , psychopathology , negative correlation , positive correlation , clinical psychology , big five personality traits , personality assessment inventory , biogenic amine , medicine , social psychology , neurotransmitter , geometry , mathematics , neuroscience , central nervous system
Levels of the activity of enzyme systems involved in the synthesis and metabolism of biogenic amines have been linked in several reports in the literature with various psychopathological conditions and with variations in personality characteristics. In particular, significant negative correlations have been reported between levels of MAO‐activity and sensation seeking. In the present study levels of MA0 and DBH‐activity were investigated in a series of 30 depressed patients, admitted consecutively, who completed a new personality inventory, the KSP, assumed to measure relatively stable personality traits. Our findings appeared to be consistent with those of earlier authors in that the most pronounced significant (negative) correlation occurred between MAO‐activity levels and the monotony avoidance subscale of the KSP. This particular subscale is aimed precisely at measuring thrill‐seeking and bears a close relation to the Sensation Seeking Scale used by other authors. In addition a weak positive correlation was found between the same subscale and levels of DBH‐activity. Finally a weak negative correlation emerged between levels of MAO and the Guilt subscale of the KSP.