Total plasma l-tryptophan, free l-tryptophan and competing amino acid levels in a homicidal male adolescent with conduct disorder.
OBJECTIVE: Several studies have shown abnormal findings in human serotonin metabolism, such as increased total plasma l-tryptophan and free l-tryptophan levels among habitually violent antisocial offenders. It is not clear if these increased l-tryptophan levels are associated with adult antisocial personality disorder (ASP) or history of substance abuse, or if these levels are already present in adolescent subjects with conduct disorder (CD). METHOD: Total plasma and free l-tryptophan and competing amino acids (CAAs) were measured in a 15-year-old adolescent offender, who was convicted for two homicides, and in 10 healthy male controls of similar age and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: In the juvenile offender, plasma total l-tryptophan/CAA was 84% and free l-tryptophan/CAA 143% higher than average mean among controls. CONCLUSION: From this very aggressive boy with CD, findings of free l- and total l-tryptophan/CAA values were similar to those of habitually violent adult ASP offenders. As severe CDs in adolescence tend to develop into adults with ASP, increased l-tryptophan/CAA and free l-tryptophan/CAA values may serve as early indicators for the development of habitually violent adult offenders.