Biochemical differences in children with conduct disorder socialized and undersocialized

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Abstract
Plasma dopamine .beta.-hydroxylase (DBH), platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO), whole blood serotonin, and RBC (red blood cell) catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) were compared in 25 children with conduct disorder and 20 control children. The children diagnosed as having conduct disorder undersocialized had significantly lower DBH activity than children diagnosed as having conduct disorder socialized or the control group. The children with conduct disorder socialized had significantly higher COMT activity than the other 2 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 2 diagnoses.