 |
|
Blunted Growth Hormone Response to Clonidine in Patients With Generalized Anxiety Disorder
James L. Abelson, MD, PhD;
Debra Glitz, MD;
Oliver G. Cameron, MD, PhD;
Myung A. Lee, MD;
Michael Bronzo, MD;
George C. Curtis, MD
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1991;48(2):157-162.
Abstract
| |
• Patients with panic disorder or depression have abnormal responses to the \g=a\2-adrenergic receptor partial agonist clonidine. Evidence linking anxiety to noradrenergic dysfunction and the presence of anxiety symptoms in both depression and panic suggest that abnormal responses to clonidine in these disorders could be due to the anxiety symptoms. To explore a possible link between "nonspecific" anxiety symptoms and abnormal responses to clonidine, patients with DSM-III\p=m-\defined generalized anxiety disorder were given intravenous infusions of clonidine hydrochloride. Responses of plasma growth hormone, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, heart rate, blood pressure, and psychological states were determined in 11 patients with generalized anxiety disorder and 14 healthy subjects. Clonidine produced significantly smaller growth hormone responses in patients than in healthy controls. The two groups did not differ in 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, heart rate, blood pressure, or psychological responses to clonidine. These results are compared with data from similar studies on patients with panic disorder and depression. The blunting of the growth hormone response to clonidine in all three disorders could be due to the presence of generalized anxiety symptoms. Subsensitivity of postsynaptic \g=a\2-adrenoreceptors may be present in all three disorders; however, there are alternative interpretations of growth hormone blunting in response to clonidine. Blunting was observed in DSM-III\p=m-\defined generalized anxiety disorder, whether or not the DSM-III-R criterion of excessive worry was also present.
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dr Glitz is now at Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich. Dr Lee is now at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. Dr Bronzo is now at the University of California at San Diego.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication May 3, 1990.
Reprint requests to University of Michigan Medical Center, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0840 (Dr Abelson).
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Increased Systemic Catecholamines in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Relationship to Psychological Factors: A Pilot Study
Harden et al.
Anesth. Analg. 2004;99:1478-1485.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
The Role of Norepinephrine in the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
Herrmann et al.
J. Neuropsychiatry Clin. Neurosi. 2004;16:261-276.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Yohimbine Challenge in Children With Anxiety Disorders
Sallee et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2000;157:1236-1242.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
The Risk for Early-Adulthood Anxiety and Depressive Disorders in Adolescents With Anxiety and Depressive Disorders
Pine et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1998;55:56-64.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
The Structure of the Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for Six Major Psychiatric Disorders in Women: Phobia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Bulimia, Major Depression, and Alcoholism
Kendler et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1995;52:374-383.
ABSTRACT
A comparison of augmenting central serotonin and noradrenaline function in healthy subjects: implications for studies on the neurochemistry of anxiety
Dratcu et al.
J Psychopharmacol 1995;9:127-135.
ABSTRACT
Antidepressants for the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Placebo-Controlled Comparison of Imipramine, Trazodone, and Diazepam
Rickels et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1993;50:884-895.
ABSTRACT
Major Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Same Genes, (Partly) Different Environments?
Kendler et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1992;49:716-722.
ABSTRACT
|
