Relationship between Platelet Serotonin Uptake Sites and Measures of Impulsivity, Aggression, and Craving among African-American Cocaine Abusers

• Published in: The American journal on addictions Vol. 12; no. 5; pp. 432 - 447
• Main Authors: Patkar, Ashwin A., Gottheil, Edward, Berrettini, Wade H., Hill, Kevin P., Thornton, Charles C., Weinstein, Stephen P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 01.10.2003
• Subjects: Adult; Aggression - physiology; Aggression - psychology; Ambulatory Care; Black or African American; Black People; Blood Platelets - metabolism; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cocaine-Related Disorders - blood; Cocaine-Related Disorders - diagnosis; Cocaine-Related Disorders - rehabilitation; Drive; Female; Humans; Impulsive Behavior - blood; Impulsive Behavior - diagnosis; Male; Paroxetine - pharmacokinetics; Personality Assessment; Philadelphia; Radioligand Assay; Receptors, Drug - metabolism; Receptors, Serotonin - blood; Reference Values; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors - pharmacokinetics; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - blood; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - diagnosis; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - rehabilitation; Urban Population; Philadelphia
• ISSN: 1055-0496; 1521-0391
• DOI: 10.1080/10550490390240800

We investigated whether platelet-tritiated paroxetine binding, a measure of serotonin uptake sites, and behavioral measures of impulsivity, aggression, and craving differed between cocaine-dependent subjects and controls and whether paroxetine binding was related to these behavioral measures. One hundred and five African-American cocaine-dependent outpatients and 44 African-American controls were studied. Tritiated paroxetine binding sites on platelets were assayed, and standardized assessments of impulsivity, aggression, and craving were performed. The Bmax values of paroxetine binding were significantly reduced among cocaine patients compared to controls. Cocaine patients showed significantly higher scores on certain measures of sensation seeking, impulsivity, and aggression as compared to controls. Furthermore, paroxetine binding showed a significant negative correlation with most measures of sensation seeking, impulsivity, and aggression--though not craving--among cocaine patients. Our findings indicate that densities of serotonin uptake sites may be reduced among cocaine abusers and related to impulsive-aggressive behavioral dimensions. (Am J Addict 2003;12:432-447)