Psychopathology in alcohol withdrawal: relationship to alpha2-adrenoceptor function.
The possible relationship between postsynaptic alpha2-adrenoceptor function, as assessed by growth hormone (GH) response to clonidine (CLON; 1.5 or 2.0 microg/kg i.v.), and psychopathology was investigated in 30 patients with alcohol-dependence in the early withdrawal period. Excluding patients with high baseline GH, 23 of the 26 patients had blunted GH responses to CLON and 57% moderate or severe depression at day 1 after the end of alcohol intake. After 1 week, the GH responses to CLON remained blunted in 20 of 21 retested patients, whereas the depression and anxiety remitted in all but two patients. The results do not support any relationship between postsynaptic alpha2-adrenoceptor function and symptoms of psychopathology in alcohol withdrawal.
Fahlke
C
C
Department of Psychology, Göteborg, Sweden.
Berggren
U
U
Lundborg
C
C
Balldin
J
J
D000322:Adrenergic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology
D000322:Adrenergic Agonists; D015415:Biomarkers; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D000431:Ethanol; D003000:Clonidine