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Psychoimmunoendocrine aspects of panic disorder
F Brambilla1, L Bellodi, G Perna
1Ospedale Psichiatrico Pini, Istituto Scientifico S. Raffaele, Milano, Italia.
Neuropsychobiology
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Alprazolam therapy improved neuroendocrine impairments in panic disorder patients, normalizing hormone levels and reducing anxiety symptoms. Immune function remained unaffected by the treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Immunology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Panic disorder is associated with dysregulation in neuroendocrine and immune systems.
- Psychological distress significantly impacts physiological parameters.
- Alprazolam is a commonly prescribed medication for anxiety disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate immunological, neuroendocrine, and psychological changes in panic disorder patients.
- To assess the effects of alprazolam therapy on these parameters.
- To explore the relationship between hormonal changes and symptom improvement.
Main Methods:
- Compared 17 panic disorder patients with 14 healthy controls.
- Measured T lymphocyte proliferation, beta-endorphin, ACTH, cortisol, GH, and prolactin levels.
- Administered CRH stimulation, dexamethasone suppression test (DST), and psychological rating scales before and after 30-day alprazolam treatment.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in immune parameters between groups or effects of alprazolam.
- Panic disorder patients showed higher basal ACTH and GH, altered ACTH/cortisol response to CRH, and blunted DST compared to controls.
- Alprazolam therapy normalized these hormonal impairments, correlating with reduced anxiety and panic attack frequency/severity.
Conclusions:
- Panic disorder is characterized by specific neuroendocrine alterations, not immune system changes.
- Alprazolam effectively ameliorates these neuroendocrine dysregulations in panic disorder patients.
- Hormonal normalization parallels clinical improvement in anxiety and panic symptoms.