Blood serotonin in schizophrenic children. A preliminary study.

Blood serotonin levels were measured in schizophrenic children, all of whom showed manifestations of illness in the first 2 years of life, and controls. Serotonin levels were higher in patients (mean = 0.267 mug/ml) than in controls (mean = 0.218 mug/ml), although the difference did not reach statistical significance. Serotonin levels were significantly higher in patients with florid psychosis and those with lower IQs than in patients in remission or partial remission or higher IQs.