Near-Zero Plasma Dopamine-β-Hydroxylase and Conduct Disorder in Emotionally Disturbed Boys

Plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DβH) was measured on 420 boys and 128 girls admitted to a children's psychiatric hospital. Children with plasma DβH activities ≥ 6 μM/min/L, the near-zero DβH group, were compared to children with DβH activities > 6 μM/min/L, the comparison group. Fifty-four percent of the boys with near-zero DβH were diagnosed conduct disorder, undersocialized and 24% were diagnosed borderline personality compared to 21% and 10% for the comparison group. Symptomatically the near-zero group had more conduct symptoms, concentration symptoms, impaired relationships, and fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms than the comparison group. Significantly more boys in the near-zero group were discharged on medication and on methylphenidate. Girls did not show these differences. The results show a relationship between near-zero plasma DβH and conduct disorder symptomatology in emotionally disturbed boys.