@article{ref1,
title="Elevated childhood serotonergic function protects against adolescent aggression in disruptive boys",
journal="Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry",
year="2006",
author="Halperin, Jeffrey M. and Kalmar, Jessica H. and Schulz, Kurt P. and Marks, David J. and Sharma, Vanshdeep and Newcorn, Jeffrey H.",
volume="45",
number="7",
pages="833-840",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study examined whether responsiveness of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) in childhood predicts adolescent aggression. METHOD: Boys (N = 33) with disruptive behavior disorders who received assessments of central 5-HT function via the prolactin response to fenfluramine between 1990 and 1994 when they were 7 to 11 years old were re-evaluated clinically on average 6.7 years later. RESULTS: After accounting for baseline aggression, early 5-HT function accounted for a significant proportion of variance in adolescent aggression. This prospective relationship of childhood 5-HT function with adolescent aggression (r = -0.71) and antisocial behavior (r = -0.59) was found primarily in adolescents who were aggressive during childhood. Irrespective of childhood aggression, no child with high 5-HT function was particularly aggressive at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Low childhood 5-HT function appears important, but not sufficient, for the emergence of adolescent aggression. However, early high 5-HT function may protect against adolescent violence and aggression.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0890-8567",
doi="10.1097/01.chi.0000220855.79144.ae",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.chi.0000220855.79144.ae"
}