There is also a strong inverse association between coffee and suicide (up to 7 cups). We know that caffeine increases serotonin, so this should not be a surprise.
( notes )

This is a new finding. The earlier in life that the traumatic insult occurs, the greater the effect. The brain develops differently as a result, and there is a great chance of comorbidities. SOURCE: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/749564?src=mpnews&spon=12

Also interesting, the mortality gap between normal people and those with mental illness is getting larger. All current mental health efforts are not yet improving the odds of survival for those with bipolar and shizophrenia. SOURCE: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/749687?src=mpnews&spon=12

On managing aggressive schizophrenics: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/749195?src=mp&spon=12

Recent research has shown that children who are young relative to the other kids in their school classes are more likely to be diagnosed and treated for ADHD. This is presumably because they are younger, less well socialized and more childish than their classmates. That childishness can be problematic so they are singled out by teachers and sent down that path toward mind bending pharmaceuticals.

Last weekend's seminar supported my impression that ADHD may be a low dopamine state, either due to decreased levels of the neurotransmitter or decreased receptor activity or numbers. It also supported my impression that low dopamine can follow from childhood trauma. We all know how vicious kids can be, so just being the youngest may constitute trauma. We also know that low status primates within a group have lower serotonin levels.

I personally know two adult humans who are beneficially treated for their ADHD with ritalin. Ritalin's mechanism of action is unknown, but it is thought to influence several neurotransmitters, most especially dopamine. Some texts say it is a dopamine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

My question is this: How does being a younger, smaller and lower status individual in a group of mammals affect your dopamine function? And what IS the relationship of dopamine function to ADHD?

And limit the use of steroids.
"People with brain tumors should not take antidepressants or other medications or use supplements that increase serotonin." --Schor
( notes from Denver Naturopathic newsletter and abstracts from several supporting studies )

I look up cocaine and find this impressive list of slang about it. My goodness. I have never tried it in any form. It was "discovered" in 1860 when someone happened to notice that tasting it numbs the tongue. Pretty soon everybody was using it for toothaches, and in 1894 doctors started using it as a local anesthetic for surgeries, especially to the nose, eyes (lacrimal ducts!), and sinuses. Freud didn't think it was addictive, but it is, because it activates the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, the reward and desire pathway, the addiction pathway. Cocaine is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. It is also a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. But these effects should not happen if it is a tiny local dose. The local numbing effect occurs because cocaine blocks nerve permeability to sodium, preventing nerve transmission. The vasoconstrictive effect is due to the inhibition of norepi reuptake. Cocaine is the only anesthetic that is vasoconstrictive, the rest vasodilate necessitating the use of injected epinephrine to minimize bleeding and loss of the anesthetic into the systemic circulation. Can anybody tell me where the world's bounty of cocaine is coming from these days?

widespread assumption: serotonin is benign substance that makes people happier
widely accepted that both l-tryp and 5HTP ameliorate depression w/o SEs
but serotonin DOES have SEs
research suggests serotonin hinders formation of new bone-->net loss
supplements increasing serotonin, 5HTP, melatonin, or L-tryptophan detrimental to bone???

Literature Review (September 2009)
Serotonin Production And Bone Health
By Jacob Schor, ND, FABNO
from: http://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/pdf/liit_rev_seratonin.pdf
( notes )

Gardeners already know this.
New research in the UK links dirt to seratonin:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6509781.stm