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Platelet serotonin binding and plasma cortisol in panic disorder before and after alprazolam plus behavioral guidance treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

A Tobeña ,
X Sanchez ,
J Masana  and
MJ Martinez de Osaba
A Tobeña
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Unit of Medical Psychology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
X Sanchez
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Unit of Medical Psychology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
J Masana
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona
MJ Martinez de Osaba
Affiliation:
Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona
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Summary

In 32 patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, Bmax measures of 5-HT binding in platelets did not differ from normal controls at baseline. Plasmatic cortisol levels were significantly higher than controls in the morning and in the evening measures as well as in post-dexamethasone assays. Following an 8-week treatment period with alprazolam plus behavioral guidance encouraging exposure, Bmax values did not alter but cortisol measures diminished significantly. Measures of phobic avoidance were negatively correlated with 5-HT Bmax values. Plasmatic cortisol correlated positively with the number of situational panic attacks in the month before treatment. There were no correlations between cortisol and 5-HT Bmax measures. A possible link between serotonin function and phobic avoidance is discussed. Cortisol changes were interpreted as being related to the global severity of the anxious state.

Keywords

serotonin bindingplateletcortisoldexamethasone suppression testpanic disorderagoraphobia
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , 1991 , pp. 31 - 37
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier, Paris 1991

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