Elsevier

Psychiatry Research

Volume 1, Issue 2, October 1979, Pages 131-139
Psychiatry Research

Aggression in humans correlates with cerebrospinal fluid amine metabolites

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(79)90053-2Get rights and content

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of the major central metabolites of serotonin (5HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA)—5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG), and homovanillic acid (HVA), respectively—were studied in a group of 26 age-similar military men with no history of major pyschiatric illness, but with various personality disorders and difficulties adjusting to military life. Independently scored history of aggressive behavior showed a significant negative correlation with 5HIAA (r = -0.78) and a significant positive correlation with MHPG (r = 0.64).

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    The opinions or assertions in this article are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the Naval Service at large.

    The authors thank Marcia D. Minichiello (NIMH) for assistance in data analysis, and V.M. Holm and O.L. Royal (Captains, U.S. Navy) for assistance with patient material.

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