Prolactin but not ACTH increases during sodium lactate-induced panic attacks

Psychiatry Res. 2002 Mar 15;109(2):201-5. doi: 10.1016/s0165-1781(02)00014-8.

Abstract

Paradoxically, the pituitary-adrenal axis is not activated during sodium lactate-induced panic. We measured the response of another stress-sensitive hormone, prolactin, to standard lactate and placebo infusion in a double-blind randomised design in eight patients with panic disorder and eight matched normal controls. Prolactin release was significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in panickers compared with non-panickers, whereas ACTH secretion was not activated at all. This differential stress response needs further investigation.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood*
  • Adult
  • Arousal / drug effects
  • Arousal / physiology
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / drug effects
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Panic / drug effects*
  • Panic / physiology
  • Panic Disorder / blood
  • Panic Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / drug effects
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiopathology
  • Prolactin / blood*
  • Sodium Lactate*

Substances

  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Prolactin
  • Sodium Lactate