Cerebrospinal fluid homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in adults with attention deficit disorder, residual type

Following the hypothesis that attention deficit disorder in adults and children, as well as in children, is associated with decreased central dopaminergic activity, lumbar cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolites were measured in a group of adults with ADD, RT and matched control subjects.

Abstract

Following the hypothesis that attention deficit disorder in adults (attention deficit disorder, residual type; ADD, RT), as well as in children, is associated with decreased central dopaminergic activity, the authors measured lumbar cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolites in a group of adults with ADD, RT and matched control subjects. Patients were then entered into a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of methylphenidate. It was predicted that the patients would have lower levels of homovanillic acid (HVA), the major dopamine metabolite in humans. Patients who had a significant response to methylphenidate showed a trend in this direction. Nonresponding patients had significantly higher levels of HVA than controls.