title: The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in agoraphobia, panic disorder, major depression and normal controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Much interest has been drawn to the investigation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT)-axis in patients suffering from depression or panic disorder. However, there is no data concerning agoraphobia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with panic disorder, agoraphobia, major depression were compared to normal controls (total n=88) in respect to HPT axis, obtaining basal TSH and administering a TRH test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal controls and agoraphobics showed significantly higher Delta(max) TSH than depressives and panic patients. There were no differences between agoraphobics and normal controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Agoraphobia, unlike depression or panic disorder, seems to be less biologically determined in respect to the HPT-axis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Auenbruggerplatz 22, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Nutzinger
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kotter
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herzog
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
chemical_list: D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin