Abstract: Angiotensin II has been suggested to influence central dopamine and serotonin turnover. Since the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a key role in angiotensin regulation by converting inactive angiotensin I to active angiotensin II, we hypothesised that the functional insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the ACE gene, which has previously been suggested to be associated with, depression and panic disorder, may influence monoamine activity. A well-established technique for assessing brain monoamine turnover in humans is to measure concentrations of monoamine metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We thus investigated possible associations between the ACE I/D polymorphism and CSF monoamine metabolite concentrations in a population of healthy male subjects. After h...MedWorm Message: Register for MedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of history of suffocation, state-trait anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity on response to a 35% carbon dioxide (CO2) challenge in panic disorder patients, their healthy first-degree relatives and healthy comparisons. Thirty-two patients with panic disorder, 32 first-degree relatives, and 34 healthy volunteers underwent the 35% CO2 challenge. We assessed baseline anxiety with the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI1), and panic symptoms with the Panic Symptom List (PSL III-R). A history of suffocation was associated with greater risk of CO2 reactivity in the combined sample. Patients had more anxiety sensitivity and state and trait anxiety than relatives and healthy comparisons; the difference betwee...

Conclusions Unaffected individuals with parental history of depression or anxiety showed a higher cortisol awakening curve, similar to that of the participants with depression or anxiety disorders. This suggests that a higher cortisol awakening curve reflects a trait marker, indicating an underlying biological vulnerability for the development of depressive and anxiety disorders. (Source: The British Journal of Psychiatry)

BNC210 Data Presented at Leading European Forum · BNC210 is more effective than Diazepam in reducing anxiety in a rat model which mimics panic attacks in humans and lacks sedative side-effects in the model · BNC210 is safe and well... (Source: Drugs.com - Clinical Trials)

Conclusions: People with GAD receiving treatment for depression may benefit from additional services targeting anxiety more specifically, while those with comorbid fear disorders may benefit from services targeting maintenance of gains after treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: Rehabilitation Psychology)

So how will you know if you are menopausal? Well, there are lots of different symptoms that could initially be misinterpreted as something else entirely, and we have the entire list of possible symptoms for you here: Hot flushes (flashes) Increase or decrease in headaches Palpitations or irregular heart beat Dry vagina, which can cause pain when you have sex Difficulty concentrating Itchy skin – could feel like crawling Breast tenderness Muscle tension Depression Weight gain Feeling light headed or dizziness Tingling in the arms and legs Burning sensation in the mouth Changes in skin texture and tone Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Increased facial hair growth Your breasts may shrink slightly Night Sweats Insomnia, difficulty sleeping Mood swings Tiredness (over and above the normal ...MedWorm Message: Register for MedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Can panic disorder be treated successfully using internet-based cognitive-behavior therapy? BMC Psychiatry (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Conclusion: Of the 70 patients studied, 17 had EEG abnormalities. Among these 17 cases, "repeated slow waves in the theta-band" was the most common abnormality. Only two out of the 70 cases examined had epileptiform discharges. The factors identified as being related to EEG abnormalities are nausea or abdominal distress, derealization or depersonalization, and paresthesias. The study indicated that physiological predispositions symbolized in EEG abnormality are closely related to panic attacks. (Source: BioPsychoSocial Medicine)

Authors: Matura LA, Carroll DL Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease characterized by elevation in pulmonary artery pressures causing progressive symptoms that lead to functional decline and poor quality of life. There are multiple causes of PAH including familial disease, connective tissue disease, and HIV. The estimated life expectancy is 4 years after onset of symptoms and approximately 6 to 7 years with PAH treatment. Much of the current research has focused on pharmacological treatments to improve functional status and decrease mortality. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the CINAHL, PubMed, and MEDLINE to identify and synthesize current studies on human responses to PAH organized by emotional responses and physical functioning. Eight s...

Conclusions: Our results suggest that NPS-NPSR1 signaling is likely involved in anxiety. (Source: Biological Psychiatry)

(Source: Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology)MedWorm Message: Register for MedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Panic disorder (PD) has significant familial aggregation (). Despite the associations and linkage disequilibrium (LD) studies (), a precise genetic background of the disorder is not known. (Source: Psychiatry Research)

Conclusions: This study indicated that CS exposure may induce anxiety, electrodermal and respiratory alterations in patients with PDA. CS exposure may be a useful tool in the research and treatment of PD patients. (Source: Journal of Affective Disorders)

Conclusions: Our study showed that serotonin polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) is strongly associated with violent suicidal behavior in BD patients. If confirmed, our results could be an important step to create a genetic tool for long-term suicide prediction. (Source: Journal of Affective Disorders)

Conclusions The recurrence risk for depression or panic was much shorter after rapid than after gradual discontinuation of antidepressants. These findings have implications for both clinical management and the design and interpretation of clinical trials. (Source: Am J Psychiatry)

This study examined the relationship between sleep disturbance and the course of anxiety disorders in primary care patients. Participants were part of the Primary Care Anxiety Project (PCAP), a naturalistic, longitudinal study of anxiety disorders in primary care. Participants completed an intake evaluation and follow-up assessments at 6 months, 12 months, and annually thereafter. Only participants with sleep data at intake were included in the current study (n=533). The majority (74%) reported experiencing sleep disturbance at intake. Those with a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were over 2 times more likely to have sleep problems. Sleep disturbance at intake did not relate to the longitudinal course of GAD, social phobia, panic d...MedWorm Message: Register for MedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

(Source: Depression and Anxiety)

NICE is currently updating existing guidance published in December 2004 on the management of anxiety. As part of this process, draft recommendations have been published on the NICE website for public consultation. The 2004 NICE guidance included the care of adults who have panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) or generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). This update only covers the recommendations on the management of adults with a diagnosis of GAD... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Conclusions: Interactions between gender and parental alcoholism were specific to certain disorders but varied in their effects, and in general female children of women with alcoholism appear at greatest risk for adult psychopathology. PMID: 20645936 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research)MedWorm Message: Register for MedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Source: NICE Area: News The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued a draft clinical practice guideline on "Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) in adults: management in primary, secondary and community care." The guidance is a partial update of NICE clinical guideline 22 (published 2004, amended 2007). The recommendations for the treatment and management of generalised anxiety disorder have been updated. With the exception of recommendation 1.4.37, the recommendations for the treatment and management of panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) have not been updated.   Pharmacological management has been outlined on pages 16 to 21 of the short version of the guideline.   The consultation period ...