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Circulatory levels of catecholamines, serotonin and lipids in attention deficit hyperactivity diiorder
Author(s) -
Spivak B.,
Vered Y.,
YoranHegesh R.,
Averbuch E.,
Mester R.,
Graf E.,
Weizman A.
Publication year - 1999
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.1600-0447.1999.tb07229.x
Subject(s) - serotonergic , serotonin , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , catecholaminergic , norepinephrine , medicine , psychology , dopamine , pathogenesis , endocrinology , catecholamine , psychiatry , receptor
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be associated with a dysregulation of the catecholaminergic and serotonergic systems. Furthermore, ADHD is frequently complicated by aggressive impulsive behaviour, which is suggested to be related to low serum cholesterol levels. We examined the relationship between blood serotonin, norepinephrine, dopa and lipid levels and the degree of hyperactivity, impulsiveness, lack of concentration, and aggressiveness in boys with ADHD of low and high severity as determined by a specially designed formulated scale based on the DSM‐IV criteria for ADHD. No differences were noted between the groups in any of the peripheral biological parameters except blood serotonin, for which a tendency (P =0.08) towards lower levels was observed in the children with more severe disorder. We conclude that children with severe ADHD may have a different serotonin turnover compared to children with mild ADHD. These results may have implications for our understanding of the pathogenesis of ADHD, at least the more severe type.