The authors compared plasma dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), platelet
monoamine oxidase (MAO), whole blood serotonin, and RBC catechol O-
methyltransferase (COMT) in 25 children with conduct disorder and 20
control children. They found that children diagnosed as having conduct
disorder undersocialized had significantly lower DBH activity than children
diagnosed as having conduct disorder socialized and the control group. The
children with conduct disorder socialized had significantly higher COMT
activity than the other two groups. When children with a diagnosis of
conduct disorder plus a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder were
compared with the control group, no significant biochemical differences
were found because of the mixing of the two diagnoses.Abstract Teaser