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Published on: November 27, 2019
Pituitary volume in patients with panic disorder
Sukru Kartalci1, Metin Dogan, Suheyla Unal
1Department of Psychiatry, Inonu University, Medical School, Malatya, Turkey. skartalci@inonu.edu.tr
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
|November 16, 2010
Summary
Patients with panic disorder (PD) exhibit smaller pituitary gland volumes, particularly those with agoraphobia. This finding may indicate underlying functional abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Panic disorder (PD) is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction.
- Altered pituitary gland volume has been observed in other psychiatric conditions with HPA axis abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate pituitary gland volume in patients diagnosed with panic disorder.
- To explore the relationship between pituitary volume, symptom severity, and illness duration in PD.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess pituitary gland volume.
- Compared pituitary volumes in 27 patients with PD and 27 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
- Subgroup analysis included patients with and without agoraphobia.
Main Results:
- Patients with PD demonstrated significantly smaller pituitary gland volumes compared to healthy controls.
- Individuals with PD and agoraphobia showed a more pronounced reduction in pituitary volume.
- A significant correlation was found between reduced pituitary volume and increased symptom severity and illness duration in PD patients.
Conclusions:
- Reduced pituitary volume in panic disorder patients may signify functional HPA axis abnormalities.
- These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of panic disorder.
- Pituitary volume could serve as a potential imaging biomarker in panic disorder research.
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