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Low platelet monoamine oxidase and sensation seeking in males: an established relationship?
Author(s) -
Ward P. B.,
Catts S. V.,
Norman T. R.,
Burrows G. D.,
McConaghy N.
Publication year - 1987
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.1600-0447.1987.tb02756.x
Subject(s) - sensation seeking , disinhibition , monoamine oxidase , sss* , psychology , platelet , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , physiology , enzyme , personality , chemistry , social psychology , biochemistry
— A significant negative correlation between platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, a stable peripheral enzyme measure under genetic control, and sensation seeking, as measured using the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS), has been reported for male subjects in several studies. As tobacco smoking has been related to both these measures, in the present study correlations were calculated among smoking and non‐smoking male university students. Platelet MAO activity was negatively correlated with the Disinhibition and Total scales of the SSS. These correlations were not significantly different in smokers and non‐smokers. The results are discussed in terms of recent evidence of reduced platelet MAO activity in psychiatric patients.