A pilot study of a neuroendocrine test battery in posttraumatic stress disorder |
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Authors: | T G Dinan S Barry L N Yatham M Mobayed I Brown |
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Affiliation: | Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Medical School, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. |
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Abstract: | Eight female patients who fulfilled DSM-III criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) took part in this study. They were each assessed using the dexamethasone suppression test, the desipramine/growth hormone stimulation test, which examines alpha-2-adrenoceptor functioning, and the buspirone/prolactin test, which is thought to examine 5-HT receptor functioning. A control group consisting of age- and sex-matched healthy subjects was also tested. For each subject the three tests were conducted over 5 days. Hormone assays were carried out blind to diagnosis. Overall no differences on any of the three tests were detected between the patients and controls. The results do not support a link between PTSD and major depression. |
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