Platelet serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor characteristics and parenting factors for boys at risk for delinquency: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the cross-sectional association between platelet membrane serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor variables in children and characteristics of their parents that place these children at risk for antisocial behavior. METHOD As part of a larger prospective study investigating predictors of antisocial behavior, 38 younger brothers of convicted delinquents provided platelet samples; samples from 34 boys (mean age=8.3 years) were usable. The authors determined the density (Bmax) and affinity (Kd) of platelet membrane 5-HT2A receptors by using [3H]lysergic acid diethylamide. They also measured parental characteristics related to serotonergic dysfunction in prior studies, the quality of parent-child interactions, and psychiatric profiles of the boys who provided platelets. RESULTS Bmax was significantly lower in boys whose parents had histories of substance abuse or incarceration. Bmax was also inversely related to harsh parenting; boys raised in environments characterized by frequent parental physical punishment and anger had a significantly lower Bmax. Bmax was not related to boys' disruptive behavior. CONCLUSIONS In boys at risk for antisocial behavior, the density of 5-HT2A receptors on platelets is inversely related to parental factors known to place youth at risk for antisocial behavior.

[1]  M. Weissman,et al.  Family psychiatric screening instrument for epidemiologic studies: pilot testing and validation , 1995, Psychiatry Research.

[2]  D. Pine,et al.  Seasonal rhythm of platelet [3H]imipramine binding in adolescents who attempted suicide. , 1995, The American journal of psychiatry.

[3]  C. Benkelfat,et al.  Serotonin and alcohol intake, abuse, and dependence: Clinical evidence , 1994, Biological Psychiatry.

[4]  L. Luthe,et al.  Studies of a neurochemical link between depression, anxiety, and stress from [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine binding on human platelets , 1994, Biological Psychiatry.

[5]  J. Rapoport,et al.  Cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolites in boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder , 1994, Psychiatry Research.

[6]  L. Siever,et al.  Familial correlates of reduced central serotonergic system function in patients with personality disorders. , 1994, Archives of general psychiatry.

[7]  L. Siever,et al.  Serotonergic function in aggressive and nonaggressive boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. , 1994, The American journal of psychiatry.

[8]  A. Leon,et al.  Relationship between central and peripheral serotonin indexes in depressed and suicidal psychiatric inpatients. , 1992, Archives of general psychiatry.

[9]  D. O. Lewis,et al.  From abuse to violence: psychophysiological consequences of maltreatment. , 1992, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[10]  T. Achenbach.  Manual for the child behavior checklist/4-18 and 1991 profile , 1991 .

[11]  D. Stoff,et al.  Platelet 3H-imipramine binding, serotonin uptake, and plasma α 1 acid glycoprotein in disruptive behavior disorders , 1991, Biological Psychiatry.

[12]  B. Birmaher,et al.  Platelet imipramine binding in children and adolescents with impulsive behavior. , 1990, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[13]  T. Brewerton.  Seasonal Variation of Serotonin Function in Humans Research and Clinical Implications , 1989 .

[14]  Abraham Weizman,et al.  Imipramine binding to platelets of children with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity , 1988, Biological Psychiatry.

[15]  H. Meltzer,et al.  Seasonal variation of imipramine binding in the blood platelets of normal controls and depressed patients , 1988, Biological Psychiatry.

[16]  D. Stoff,et al.  Reduction of (3H)-imipramine binding sites on platelets of conduct-disordered children. , 1987, Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

[17]  J. Brook,et al.  Family factors related to the persistence of psychopathology in childhood and adolescence. , 1987, Psychiatry.

[18]  D. D. Davis,et al.  Biological stress responses in high and low trait anxious students , 1985, Biological Psychiatry.

[19]  Oliver H. Lowry,et al.  Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. , 1951, The Journal of biological chemistry.

[20]  R. Cadoret,et al.  Adoption study demonstrating two genetic pathways to drug abuse. , 1995, Archives of general psychiatry.

[21]  G. Hanna,et al.  Whole blood serotonin and disruptive behaviors in juvenile obsessive-compulsive disorder. , 1995, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[22]  Yogesh K. Dwivedi,et al.  Platelet serotonin-2A receptors: a potential biological marker for suicidal behavior. , 1995, The American journal of psychiatry.

[23]  J. Zubieta,et al.  Is there a role of serotonin in the disruptive behavior disorders? A literature review. , 1993, Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology.

[24]  George M. Anderson,et al.  Platelet serotonin studies in hyperserotonemic relatives of children with autistic disorder. , 1993, Life sciences.

[25]  J. Y. Bénard,et al.  Platelets 3H 5-HT uptake in descendants from alcoholic patients: a potential risk factor for alcohol dependence? , 1993, Life sciences.

[26]  P. Breton,et al.  Ethanol intake and 3H-serotonin uptake. II: A study in alcoholic patients using platelets 3H-paroxetine binding. , 1991, Life sciences.