Aggressive behaviour and platelet 3H-paroxetine binding in schizophrenia

Forty schizophrenic patients were included in a study of the relationship between serotonin function as measured by 3 H-paroxetine binding to platelet membranes and aggressive behaviour. Patients classified as either aggressive or non-aggressive were paired by age, sex and duration of illness. 3 H-Paroxetine binding variations were avoided by taking samples for each pair between 09:00 and 11:00 h, within 4 days of each other, and by assaying pairs of samples together. The mean K d for the aggressive group was 0.193 ± 0.126 nM and the mean K d for the non-aggressive group was 0.176+0.164 nM. The mean B max for the aggressive group was 1451 ±386 fmol/mg protein while the mean for the non-aggressive group was 1549 ± 375 fmol/mg protein. There was no significant difference between the groups for either parameter, K d or B max . There were no significant correlations between psychopathology ratings including positive and negative symptoms, depression, suicidal thoughts, impulse control, as well as both past and present history of aggression, hostility and irritability traits, psychopathic deviance and either B max and K d . This study finds no relationship between aggressive behaviour and peripheral serotonin function as measured by 3 H-paroxetine binding to platelet membranes.