Diurnal variation of cortisol in panic disorder

In patients with panic disorder (n = 23), daytime salivary cortisol levels were determined in 2-h spans on 3 consecutive days and compared with 23 age - and sex-matched healthy controls. Additionally, nocturnal urinary free co rtisol levels were measured. Daytime salivary cortisol levels were numerica lly higher in the patients, although the difference did not reach statistic al significance. In a subgroup of 14 patients with higher illness severity las expressed by a score greater than or equal to 22 on the Panic and Agora phobia Scale), salivary cortisol levels were significantly higher than in t he controls. Mean nocturnal urinary cortisol levels were significantly high er in the whole group of patients and also in the more severely ill subgrou p when compared with controls. Cortisol elevations seem to be more pronounc ed during the night and occurred mainly in more severely ill panic patients . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. Al rights reserved.