Evaluation of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis by using dexamethasone suppression test in patients with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder

2017-01-02T19-12-35Z
Source: Düşünen Adam: The Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences
Yunus Hacımusalar, Ertuğrul Eşel.
Evaluation of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis by using dexamethasone suppression test in patients with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis on the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders by examining the HPA axis activity in paitents with panic disorder (PD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Method: Serum concentrations of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) were measured at baseline and post dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in patients with PD (n=24), GAD (n=21) and in healthy controls (n=20). Results: The basal cortisol levels in GAD group were found lower than those of the patients with PD and healthy controls. Cortisol suppression by dexamethasone in GAD group was found to be lower than PD patients and healthy controls. Basal and postdexamethasone DHEA-S levels in the patients with PD and GAD were similar to those of the healthy controls. Conclusion: Lower cortisol levels and inadequate cortisol suppression on DST in GAD patients may suggest a down-regulation in both corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in the central nervous system.


from Scope via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2ixf1Is
via IFTTT