SERUM-CHOLESTEROL LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD) AND WITH GAD AND COMORBID MAJOR DEPRESSION

Objective: To investigate risk for cardiovascular disease in patients with GAD, as well as the effects of comorbid major depression (MD). Me thod: Predrug-trial serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were ass essed in 38 patients with pure GAD and compared with those of 21 patie nts with mixed GAD and comorbid (MD). Results: Significantly higher ch olesterol and triglyceride levels were found in the GAD group. Conclus ion: Increased noradrenergic activity may be responsible for elevation s in lipid levels in patients with pure GAD.