TY - JOUR
T1 - No correlation between aggression and platelet 3H-paroxetine binding in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients
AU - Marazziti, Donatella
AU - Conti, Luciano
AU - Pfanner, Chiara
AU - Presta, Silvio
AU - Rossi, Alessandra
AU - Gemignani, Alfredo
AU - Dell'Osso, Liliana
AU - Cassano, Giovanni B.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Different findings suggest that the serotonin (5-HT) system may be involved in both the regulation of aggression and the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Our study aimed to evaluate the aggressive features of a group of OCD patients and to explore possible correlations with a serotonergic marker, namely platelet 5-HT transporter. Psychopathological and biological patterns were compared with those of a group of healthy controls and those of patients with major depression. Twenty-one patients affected by OCD, 21 by depression and 21 healthy controls were included in the study. Aggressive features were measured by means of the Buss and Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI). The platelet 5-HT transporter was evaluated by means of the 3H-paroxetine binding parameters (maximum binding (capacity, Bmax and dissociation constant, Kd). The OCD patients showed a total score on the BDHI not significantly different from that of healthy controls and lower than that of depressed patients. The factor profile was similar in the 3 groups, but higher in the depressed patients. The irritability, resentment, guilt, negativism and suspiciousness factors were significantly more pronounced in depressed patients. Some sex-related difference in single factors were also observed. The Bmax of 3H-paroxetine binding was lower in OCD patients than in depressives or healthy controls. OCD patients were more similar to healthy controls than to depressed patients with regard to aggressive features measured by means of the BDHI. This suggests that aggression in OCD is a complex phenomenon that probably requires specific instruments of evaluation.
AB - Different findings suggest that the serotonin (5-HT) system may be involved in both the regulation of aggression and the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Our study aimed to evaluate the aggressive features of a group of OCD patients and to explore possible correlations with a serotonergic marker, namely platelet 5-HT transporter. Psychopathological and biological patterns were compared with those of a group of healthy controls and those of patients with major depression. Twenty-one patients affected by OCD, 21 by depression and 21 healthy controls were included in the study. Aggressive features were measured by means of the Buss and Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI). The platelet 5-HT transporter was evaluated by means of the 3H-paroxetine binding parameters (maximum binding (capacity, Bmax and dissociation constant, Kd). The OCD patients showed a total score on the BDHI not significantly different from that of healthy controls and lower than that of depressed patients. The factor profile was similar in the 3 groups, but higher in the depressed patients. The irritability, resentment, guilt, negativism and suspiciousness factors were significantly more pronounced in depressed patients. Some sex-related difference in single factors were also observed. The Bmax of 3H-paroxetine binding was lower in OCD patients than in depressives or healthy controls. OCD patients were more similar to healthy controls than to depressed patients with regard to aggressive features measured by means of the BDHI. This suggests that aggression in OCD is a complex phenomenon that probably requires specific instruments of evaluation.
KW - H-paroxetine binding
KW - Aggression
KW - Buss and Durkee Hostility Inventory
KW - Obsessive-compulsive disorder
KW - Platelet serotonin transporter
KW - Serotonin
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U2 - 10.1159/000054877
DO - 10.1159/000054877
M3 - Article
C2 - 11287787
AN - SCOPUS:0035065672
VL - 43
SP - 117
EP - 122
JO - Neuropsychobiology
JF - Neuropsychobiology
SN - 0302-282X
IS - 3
ER -