title: Anxiety states: relationship to atmospheric cations and serotonin.
abstract: Five cases are described that offer evidence for the existence of the "serotonin irritation syndrome," an anxiety state associated with high cation environments, elevated serum serotonin, and decreased urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. The therapeutic response and reduction in serum serotonin after treatment with methysergide and/or removal from the high-cation environment support a serotonergic basis of the anxiety.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000390:Air Ionization; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D002412:Cations; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008784:Methysergide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D008784:Methysergide