PLASMA NEUROPEPTIDE-Y IN ANXIETY DISORDERS - FINDINGS IN PANIC DISORDER AND SOCIAL PHOBIA

The demonstration in preclinical studies that centrally administered n europeptide Y (NPY) has anxiolytic effects had led to speculation that NPY may play a role in human anxiety disorders. We therefore decided to study plasma NPY levels in 22 patients with DSM-III-R anxiety disor ders (11 with panic disorder and 11 with social phobia, generalized ty pe) and 12 never psychiatrically ill comparison subjects. Under restin g conditions, plasma NPY levels did not differ among the three diagnos tic groups. Following hand immersion in ice water, plasma NE levels - but not NPY levels - increased immediately, but there were no signific ant differential diagnostic effects. These results are convergent with prior reports of normal sympathetic nerve activity in patients with a nxiety disorders.