OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between central serotonergic (5-HT) function and history of parental aggression in aggressive and nonaggressive boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: History of psychiatric symptoms was assessed in the biological parents of 41 boys with ADHD. The relationship between 5-HT function in aggressive and nonaggressive probands, as assessed via the prolactin response to fenfluramine (FEN) challenge, and parental history of aggression was examined. RESULTS: Aggressive boys with a parental history of aggressive behavior had a significantly lower prolactin response to FEN challenge than aggressive boys without a parental history of aggression. Nonaggressive boys had a prolactin response midway between those of the two aggressive subgroups, and their prolactin response did not vary as a function of parental aggression. Children subdivided on the basis of parental history of other psychiatric symptoms did not differ in their response to the FEN challenge. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate an association between parent aggressive behavior and lower 5-HT function in aggressive boys with ADHD but do not indicate the extent to which this association is environmentally and/or genetically transmitted. There may be different neurochemical mechanisms in familial and nonfamilial aggressive children, which have clinical implications for pharmacological interventions.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between central serotonergic (5-HT) function and history of parental aggression in aggressive and nonaggressive boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: History of psychiatric symptoms was assessed in the biological parents of 41 boys with ADHD. The relationship between 5-HT function in aggressive and nonaggressive probands, as assessed via the prolactin response to fenfluramine (FEN) challenge, and parental history of aggression was examined. RESULTS: Aggressive boys with a parental history of aggressive behavior had a significantly lower prolactin response to FEN challenge than aggressive boys without a parental history of aggression. Nonaggressive boys had a prolactin response midway between those of the two aggressive subgroups, and their prolactin response did not vary as a function of parental aggression. Children subdivided on the basis of parental history of other psychiatric symptoms did not differ in their response to the FEN challenge. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate an association between parent aggressive behavior and lower 5-HT function in aggressive boys with ADHD but do not indicate the extent to which this association is environmentally and/or genetically transmitted. There may be different neurochemical mechanisms in familial and nonfamilial aggressive children, which have clinical implications for pharmacological interventions.
Authors: Ronald D Chervin; Deborah L Ruzicka; Timothy F Hoban; Judith L Fetterolf; Susan L Garetz; Kenneth E Guire; James E Dillon; Barbara T Felt; Elise K Hodges; Bruno J Giordani Journal: Chest Date: 2012-07 Impact factor: 9.410
Authors: Ronald D Chervin; Susan L Garetz; Deborah L Ruzicka; Elise K Hodges; Bruno J Giordani; James E Dillon; Barbara T Felt; Timothy F Hoban; Kenneth E Guire; Louise M O'Brien; Joseph W Burns Journal: J Clin Sleep Med Date: 2014-08-15 Impact factor: 4.062
Authors: Walter Adriani; Monica Rea; Marta Baviera; William Invernizzi; Mirjana Carli; Orlando Ghirardi; Antonio Caprioli; Giovanni Laviola Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2004-05-08 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Ronald D Chervin; Seockhoon Chung; Louise M O'Brien; Timothy F Hoban; Susan L Garetz; Deborah L Ruzicka; Kenneth E Guire; Elise K Hodges; Barbara T Felt; Bruno J Giordani; James E Dillon Journal: Sleep Med Date: 2014-06-06 Impact factor: 3.492