Noradrenergic response to intravenous yohimbine in patients with depression and comorbidity of depression and panic.
Adrenergic response following infusions of yohimbine or normal saline was evaluated in 9 control subjects, 8 patients suffering from a major depressive episode (MDE), and 12 patients suffering from concurrent MDE and panic disorder (MDE + P). Blood was drawn at -20, 0, 5, 10, 20, 45, and 90 min following the infusions, and assayed for norepinephrine (NE) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenyl glycol (MHPG). Although the patient groups exhibited higher baseline NE concentrations, and a greater NE area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC0-90) during the yohimbine infusion, the differences were not statistically significant. Baseline NE was significantly correlated with the NE AUC0-90 in all three groups, suggesting that, although the NE system may be dysregulated in the MDE and MDE + P patients, the NE system still appears to respond somewhat predictably following a challenge, even though the actual magnitude of response may vary.
Guthrie
S K
SK
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1065.
Grunhaus
L
L
Pande
A C
AC
Hariharan
M
M
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D015016:Yohimbine; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D009638:Norepinephrine