The pineal hormone melatonin in panic disorder.
The nocturnal synthesis of the pineal hormone melatonin was examined from 8 p.m. to midnight in 11 patients with panic disorder and eight control subjects. Patient concentrations of melatonin were significantly lower than controls at 10 p.m. (P less than 0.05; Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA) and midnight (P less than 0.01). At 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., patient concentrations were also lower than controls, but were not statistically significantly different (P = 0.09). From these data, it is postulated that some patients with panic disorder exhibit a generalised defect in sensitivity of beta-adrenergic receptors or of sympathetic transmission.
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood*; D010200:Panic / Q000502:physiology*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D008550:Melatonin