title: Inverse agonist binding of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in anxiety disorder.
abstract: The binding characteristics of the pBR (peripheral benzodiazepine receptor) inverse agonist, [3H]-Ro 5-4864, were examined in patients diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder. As compared to normal healthy controls, the anxious subjects demonstrated a statistically significant (p < 0.001) increase in the density of pBR in platelets. The enhanced pBR binding correlated significantly with the severity of global anxiety symptom of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAR-S, p < 0.001). The Psychic component, but not the Somatic component, of the HAR-S, correlated significantly (p < 0.001) with the enhanced pBR binding in platelets. The results provide evidence for the hypothesis of dysregulation of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in generalized anxiety disorder.
authors.affiliation: Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry/Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5 Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Mishra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D001570:Benzodiazepinones / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D001570:Benzodiazepinones; D015415:Biomarkers; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; C028513:4'-chlorodiazepam