Elsevier

Biological Psychiatry

Volume 30, Issue 1, 1 July 1991, Pages 73-80
Biological Psychiatry

Neuroendocrine effects of diazepam in panic and generalized anxiety disorders

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(91)90072-TGet rights and content

Abstract

The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and growth hormone responses to four consecutive, logarithmically increasing doses of intravenous diazepam compared with placebo given at 15-min intervals were examined in patients with panic disorder (n = 13), generalized anxiety disorder (n = 8), and healthy controls (n = 13). Diazepam caused dose-dependent decreases in cortisol and increases in GH and dose-dependent decreases in ACTH. There were no patient-control differences, possibly due to either the small sample size or the experimental paradigm, which tested subjects in an upright, sitting position in mildly arousing circumstances.

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    Research was supported by NIMH grant #MH-42088 (CN) and MH-93449 (PPR-B).

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