Childhood psychosis and monoamine metabolites in spinal fluid.

• Determination of monoamine metabolites was accomplished in the spinal fluid of 22 psychotic children and in 22 sex- and almost-age-matched "normal" controls. Also, specimens from groups of mentally retarded children and children with progressive encephalopathy or meningitis were used for comparison. The psychotic children showed raised levels of homovanillic acid. Thirteen children diagnosed as autistic by Rutter's criteria showed isolated increase of this metabolite. In the group of 9 children with other psychoses, both the level of homovanillic acid and that of 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid was raised. The comparison with the group of "simply" mentally retarded children and results within the psychotic group revealed that the increased concentration of monoamines was not attributable to mental retardation per se.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adolescent

Age Factors

Autistic Disorder

Cerebrospinal fluid

Brain Diseases

Cerebrospinal fluid

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebrospinal fluid

Child

Child

Preschool

Female

Glycols

Cerebrospinal fluid

Homovanillic Acid

Cerebrospinal fluid

Humans

Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid

Cerebrospinal fluid

Intellectual Disability

Cerebrospinal fluid

Male

Meningitis

Cerebrospinal fluid

Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol

Cerebrospinal fluid

Phenylacetates

Cerebrospinal fluid

Psychotic Disorders

Cerebrospinal fluid

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)