Attention deficit disorder symptoms and urine catecholamines

The symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and concentration deficits associated with attention deficit disorder (ADD) may be related, in part, to alterations in dopaminergic and noradrenergic functioning. In this study we correlate the above symptoms with 24-hour urinary catecholamines and their m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychiatry research 1989-03, Vol.27 (3), p.241-251
Main Authors: Rogeness, Graham A., Maas, James W., Javors, Martin A., Macedo, Carlos A., Fischer, Charles, Harris, William R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attention deficit disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - enzymology
Biological and medical sciences
catecholamines
Catecholamines - urine
Child
Child clinical studies
conduct disorder
Dopamine - urine
Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase - blood
dopamine-β-hydroxylase
Epinephrine - urine
Homovanillic Acid - urine
Humans
Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid - urine
Male
Medical sciences
Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol - urine
norepinephrine
Norepinephrine - urine
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Vanilmandelic Acid - urine
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Summary:The symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and concentration deficits associated with attention deficit disorder (ADD) may be related, in part, to alterations in dopaminergic and noradrenergic functioning. In this study we correlate the above symptoms with 24-hour urinary catecholamines and their metabolites in emotionally disturbed boys divided into two groups based on their plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH) activities and also divided into the following diagnostic groups: conduct disorder, undersocialized; conduct disorder, socialized; and subjects without conduct disorder. Boys in the low DBH group showed significant correlations between the ADD symptoms and the biochemical measures. The low DBH group may be more genetically homogeneous with regard to catecholamine function, making relationships between catecholamine function and behavior more visible. The group of boys with conduct disorder, socialized had higher 24-hour urinary norepinephrine and vanillylmandelic acid output. The relationship between monoamines and their metabolites appeared to differ among diagnostic groups.
ISSN:0165-1781
1872-7123
DOI:10.1016/0165-1781(89)90140-6