URINARY-EXCRETION OF CORTISOL, NOREPINEPHRINE, TESTOSTERONE, AND MELATONIN IN PANIC DISORDER

Nocturnal urinary cortisol, norepinephrine, epinephrine, testosterone, and melatonin secretion patterns were studied in male patients with D SM IV/ICD-10 panic disorder (n=16) over two series of 5 consecutive ni ghts each. Nighttime urinary excretion of cortisol, norepinephrine, an d epinephrine was significantly elevated in drug-free patients compare d to normal individuals (n=13), Measurements were repeated after 4 wee ks, and the same differences were found again. There were high correla tions between the first and the second series of measurements. Testost erone and melatonin levels did not differ between panic patients and c ontrols.