• Diva Eensoo, Marika Paaver, Aleksander Pulver, Maarike Harro, and Jaanus Harro.
• Department of Public Health, Center of Behavioral and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
• Psychopharmacology (Berl.). 2004 Mar 1; 172 (3): 356-8.

RationaleLow platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity is associated with problem drinking and other deviant behaviors. Since the majority of alcohol abusers are smokers, and tobacco smoke has a direct inhibitory effect on the enzyme, these associations may not be meaningful.ObjectiveThe authors compared platelet MAO activity and impulsivity in police-referred subjects caught driving while intoxicated and in control subjects, controlling for smoking.MethodsPlatelet MAO activity was measured radioenzymatically and impulsivity scores obtained from questionnaires. Smoking status was self-reported.ResultsSubjects caught driving while intoxicated had significantly higher dysfunctional impulsivity and lower platelet MAO activity than control subjects. This difference in platelet MAO activity between the two groups was significant in non-smokers and ex-smokers.ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate that platelet MAO activity is lower in subjects with socially deviant behavior, and the association of low platelet MAO and problem drinking is not an artifact of smoking.

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