MMPI measures of impulsivity and depression correlate with CSF 5-HIAA and HVA in depression but not schizophrenia

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 1991-08, Vol.22 (4), p.235-239
• Main Authors: Faustman, William O., King, Roy J., Faull, Kym F., Moses, James A., Benson, Kathleen L., Zarcone, Vincent P., Csernansky, John G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; CSF 5-HIAA; CSF HVA; Depression; Depressive Disorder - cerebrospinal fluid; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Homovanillic Acid - cerebrospinal fluid; Humans; Impulsive Behavior - cerebrospinal fluid; Impulsive Behavior - diagnosis; Impulsive Behavior - psychology; Impulsivity; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; MMPI; MMPI - statistics & numerical data; Mood disorders; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - cerebrospinal fluid; Schizophrenia - diagnosis; Schizophrenic Psychology
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/0165-0327(91)90069-5

Recent studies have linked impulsivity with CSF concentrations of both 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA). One work found a negative correlation between the MMPI psychopathic deviate (Pd) scale and 5-HIAA in personality disordered men (Brown et al., 1982). We found that the 5-HIAA/Pd correlation extends ( P < 0.05) to unmedicated depressed patients ( n = 21). A trend was found between HVA and Pd in depression. There was no relationship between either metabolite and the Pd scale in unmedicated schizophrenics ( n = 24). A significant inverse correlation was found between the MMPI depression scale and CSF HVA but not 5-HIAA in the depressed patients.