SALIVA LEVEL OF FREE 3-METHOXY-4-HYDROXYPHENYLGLYCOL IN PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENTS WITH ANXIETY

As a measurement of the level of anxiety in psychiatric outpatients wi th anxiety, we determined the saliva level of free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy phenyleglycol (MHPG) using gas chromatography- mass spectrometry and s cored the levels of anxiety with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) in p atients, before and after drug treatment with alprazolam for 1 week. T he saliva level of free-MHPG at first visit to hospital was significan tly higher than that of control individuals and disease control indivi duals and was reduced by alprazolam treatment for 1 week. There was no correlation between MHPG level and the HAS score at the first hospita l visit. The MHPG levels after treatment correlated with the HAS score s. The reduction of the anxiety level as scored by the HAS correlated with the reduction of MHPG level. These results indicate that the free saliva MHPG level may be a useful indicator for assessing not only th e level of anxiety, but also the response to drug treatment for anxiet y in these patients. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 13:213-217 (C) 1998 Lipp incott Williams & Wilkins.