Plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and preschool behavior in children with conduct disorder.

The preschool behavior history and a history of abuse or neglect were compared between emotionally disturbed boys with and without conduct disorder (CD), and between boys with high and low plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) activities and CD. Boys with CD had the expected increase in preschool behaviors associated with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and CD as well as more reports of abuse or neglect. A higher percentage of boys with low D beta H were reported to have preschool behaviors associated with ADD. In contrast, more high D beta H subjects were reported as abused or neglected.