Citation

Moss HB. Med. Hypotheses 1987; 23(4): 353-361.

Affiliation

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pennsylvania 15213.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2443817

Abstract

Evidence exists of an increased risk for alcoholism in those individuals with some form of disinhibitory behavioral disturbance such as impulsivity, low frustration tolerance, attention span deficits, impersistance, sociopathy, hyperactivity and stimulus-seeking behavior. Studies have also linked alcohol abuse with aggression and criminality. Aggressive and impulsive individuals have been shown to have low levels of the major CSF metabolite of serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Interestingly, abstinent alcoholic men, and non-alcoholic first-degree relatives have been shown to have similar decrement. Alcoholism may therefore be part of a spectrum of disinhibitory psychopathy which is characterized by reduced central serotonergic activity, and has a familial or genetic component.

Language: en