Correlations of plasma oxytocin with clinical and hormonal parameters in panic disorder

The potential association between oxytocin (OXT) plasma levels and clinical and hormonal parameters in panic disorder (PD) especially in its acute phase - has not been investigated as yet. This was the aim of this article.

Twenty-four consecutively-referred, acutely-ill, medication-free PD patients with (PDA, N = 21) or without agoraphobia, moreover without comorbidities, completed the following clinical measures: Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS); Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ); Mobility Inventory-Alone subscale (MI-alone); and number of panic attacks during last 21 d (PA21d). Plasma levels of OXT, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol were evaluated.

OXT levels were significantly, negatively associated with the HARS scores (r= -0.59 p=.002) and weakly, negatively correlated with the ACQ scores (r = -0.403 p=.051). No significant correlations were traced between OXT levels and PA21d, MI-alone, ACTH, and cortisol.

In acutely-ill, medication-free PD patients, OXT plasma levels may be relevant to the severity of their 'general' anxiety symptoms, but not to the 'specific' panic psychopathology.