Changes in neuroactive steroid secretion associated with CO2-induced panic attacks in normal individuals

• Published in: Psychoneuroendocrinology Vol. 38; no. 10; pp. 2234 - 2242
• Main Authors: Brambilla, Francesca, Perini, Giulia, Serra, Mariangela, Pisu, Maria Giuseppina, Zanone, Stefano, Toffanin, Tommaso, Milleri, Stefano, Garcia, Cristina Segura, Biggio, Giovanni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: 3α,5α-Tetrahydrodesoxycorticosterone; 3α,5α-Tetrahydroprogesterone; Adult; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon Dioxide - administration & dosage; Carbon Dioxide - adverse effects; CO2 inhalation; Cortisol; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormones and behavior; Humans; Inhalation Exposure; Male; Menstrual Cycle - physiology; Middle Aged; Neurotransmitter Agents - blood; Neurotransmitter Agents - secretion; Panic attack; Panic Disorder - etiology; Panic Disorder - metabolism; Panic Disorder - psychology; Progesterone; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Steroids - metabolism; Young Adult; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Panic attack; CO2 inhalation; Cortisol; Progesterone; 3α,5α-Tetrahydroprogesterone; 3α,5α-Tetrahydrodesoxycorticosterone; CO 2 inhalation; Corticosteroid; Steroid hormone; Secretion; Anxiety disorder; Antiinflammatory agent; Carbon dioxide; Neurosteroid; Hydrocortisone; CO; Glucocorticoid; Ovarian hormone; Progestagen; Inhalation; Adrenal hormone; Sex steroid hormone; CO inhalation

Neuroactive steroids modulate anxiety in experimental animals and possibly in humans. The secretion of these compounds has been found to be altered in panic disorder (PD), with such alterations having been suggested to be a possible cause or effect of panic symptomatology. Panic-like attacks can be...